2026 Yashin Trophy: The Best Goalkeeper Nominees Revealed

The 2026 Yashin Trophy nominees have been revealed. Meet the 10 shortlisted goalkeepers, understand the award period, and discover who has the strongest case to win.

A goalkeeper can spend 89 minutes doing everything right and still be remembered for one mistake. But when the pressure is at its highest, one save can become the difference between winning a trophy and watching someone else lift it. That is exactly why the race for the 2026 Yashin Trophy deserves attention.

The 10 nominees for the award were revealed on September 8, with the winner set to be announced at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26. Importantly, the award is based on performances from August 2025 to July 2026, meaning the 2026 FIFA World Cup is included, while performances from the current 2026/27 season do not count. That makes this year’s shortlist particularly fascinating. Some nominees made their strongest case at the World Cup, while others built theirs through an outstanding club season.

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Which Goalkeepers Have Been Nominated?

The 10 nominees for the 2026 Yashin Trophy are

Spain leads the way with three nominees: Unai Simón, Joan García, and David Raya. Simón has the strongest international case among them after helping Spain win the World Cup and claiming the tournament’s Golden Glove. Raya, meanwhile, had an excellent season with Arsenal but spent Spain’s World Cup campaign as Simón’s backup.

There are also three African goalkeepers on the list: Yassine Bounou, Édouard Mendy, and Vozinha. The latter is arguably the most unexpected name among the nominees. The 40-year-old helped Cape Verde reach the World Cup knockout stages for the first time, turning himself into one of the tournament’s breakout stories.

Who Has the Strongest Case to Win?

If the award is judged primarily on the biggest moments of the season, Unai Simón has a very strong argument. Winning the World Cup is the ultimate team achievement, but adding the Golden Glove makes his individual case even stronger. He was not simply part of Spain’s success; he was recognised as the tournament’s outstanding goalkeeper.

Matvey Safonov has perhaps the strongest club-based argument. His campaign with Paris Saint-Germain ended with Champions League success, giving him one of the biggest trophies available at club level. His case becomes even stronger because the Yashin Trophy criteria place individual performances first, followed by team achievements.

Then come the established names. Thibaut Courtois remains one of the most reliable big-game goalkeepers in football, while Emiliano Martínez is chasing a third Yashin Trophy after winning the award in 2023 and 2024. His nomination is notable despite Argentina missing out on the 2026 World Cup. David Raya and Joan García also deserve attention. Raya’s ability to contribute during Arsenal’s build-up makes him a modern goalkeeper in every sense, while García’s first season as Barcelona’s No. 1 was enough to earn him his first Yashin Trophy nomination.

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What Will Decide the Yashin Trophy?

The award is not simply about who made the most spectacular saves. According to the official criteria, individual performances and their decisive character come first, followed by team performances and achievements, with fair play also considered. Each juror selects three goalkeepers, with five, three, and one points awarded respectively.

That makes the World Cup particularly important this year. The tournament fell inside the award period, giving Simón and Vozinha an opportunity to make their cases in front of a global audience. At the same time, Safonov’s Champions League success and the club’s campaigns of Courtois, Martínez, Raya, and the other nominees provide strong alternatives.

My pick would be Unai Simón. The World Cup Golden Glove, Spain’s triumph, and his performances throughout the tournament give him the clearest combination of individual brilliance and team success. Safonov is probably his biggest challenger because of his Champions League campaign, while Courtois and Martínez have the experience to make the final vote close. The winner will be revealed in London on October 26, but based on the performances that actually count for this award, Simón has the strongest case to take the 2026 Yashin Trophy.

Do you agree with Unai Simón as the favourite, or does another goalkeeper deserve to win the 2026 Yashin Trophy? Let us know in the comments.

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