Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper and Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has earned a nomination for the prestigious Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy, recognizing the world’s best goalkeeper.
The 32-year-old, who has been a standout performer in South African football, joins a distinguished list of goalkeepers from top European leagues in the top 10 nominees for this esteemed award.
Williams’ nomination highlights his exceptional year, following his stellar performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where he was named goalkeeper of the tournament and played a key role in Bafana Bafana’s bronze medal victory.
Additionally, he was crowned PSL Footballer of the Year, making him only the third player in history to receive this accolade.
The Yachine Trophy nominees include Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia), Andre Lunin (Ukraine), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Mike Maignan (France), Diogo Costa (Portugal), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Yann Sommer (Switzerland), Unai Simon (Spain), and Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), the 2023 winner.
Williams faces strong competition from goalkeepers across Europe’s elite leagues. The winner of the Ballon d’Or Yachine Trophy will be announced on October 28 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France.
