Gianluigi Donnarumma, who lifted the Yashin Trophy for the second time last year after his heroics with Paris Saint-Germain, has been notably excluded from the 2026 shortlist for the award, considered the top individual honour for goalkeepers. This omission comes alongside a historic absence of any goalkeeper from the main Ballon d’Or nominees, the first time this has occurred since the shortlist system was adopted in 1995, according to Goal.com.
Donnarumma’s Exclusion from Yashin Trophy
Despite securing the Yashin Trophy in 2025, Donnarumma is not among the ten goalkeepers vying for the 2026 prize. Goal.com identifies Donnarumma as the Manchester City goalkeeper, while also noting his past success included holding ninth place in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking after his “historic campaign” with Paris Saint-Germain. His absence from this year’s nominations is attributed by Goal.com to the Italian national team’s failure to qualify for the last World Cup.
Goalkeepers Miss Out on Main Ballon d’Or Award
The 70th edition of the prestigious Ballon d’Or awards, set to be held in London on October 26, marks a significant moment with no goalkeepers making the final list of contenders. This is only the third time in the award’s history that the goalkeeper category is missing from the final ranking, following the 1967 and 1968 editions, as reported by the French newspaper L’Équipe via Goal.com. Lev Yashin, who won in 1963, remains the only goalkeeper to have ever claimed the main Ballon d’Or award.
Several prominent goalkeepers, despite strong seasons, also missed out on the main Ballon d’Or shortlist. Unai Simón of Athletic Club, a World Cup winner who conceded just one goal in eight games for Spain, was not included. David Raya, Arsenal’s goalkeeper, who claimed his third straight Premier League Golden Glove in 2025-26 with 19 clean sheets and was part of Spain’s victorious World Cup squad, also saw his omission described as “puzzling” by The New York Times. Emiliano Martínez, who won the Europa League with Aston Villa and played in his second World Cup final with Argentina, was another notable exclusion. Martínez is a two-time previous winner of the Yashin Trophy, according to Sports Illustrated.
The 2026 Yashin Trophy Nominees
Despite Donnarumma’s absence, ten goalkeepers have made the shortlist for the Yashin Trophy. Among the nominees, The New York Times highlighted the inclusion of Vozinha, the 40-year-old Cabo Verde international who gained nearly 30 million Instagram followers after his acrobatic performances at the World Cup, helping his side reach the round of 32 without losing a game in 90 minutes. Vozinha has since joined Chilean club Colo-Colo. While his inclusion has been termed an “imaginative pick”, some suggested it might not be based purely on performance or talent.
Other notable nominees for the Yashin Trophy include Matvey Safonov, who has grown in stature at Paris Saint-Germain following Donnarumma’s departure and made key saves during their Champions League run. Arnau García of Barcelona also received a nomination, having won La Liga, the Supercopa de España, and the World Cup in his first season with the club, alongside being awarded the Zamora Trophy for Spain’s best goalkeeper. The winner of the Yashin Trophy will be crowned during the ceremony in London on October 26.
FAQ
- Q: When will the 2026 Yashin Trophy winner be announced?
A: The winner will be crowned in London on October 26, during the Ballon d’Or ceremony. - Q: Why was Gianluigi Donnarumma not nominated for the Yashin Trophy this year?
A: According to Goal.com, his exclusion is linked to the Italian national team’s failure to qualify for the last World Cup. - Q: Is it unusual for no goalkeepers to be on the main Ballon d’Or shortlist?
A: Yes, it is the first time since the shortlist system was adopted in 1995 that no goalkeepers have been included in the main Ballon d’Or nominees. Historically, it is only the third such instance, following 1967 and 1968, as reported by L’Équipe via Goal.com.
