Ballon d’Or: Surprise inclusion of Vozinha in best goalkeepers list

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has created a big surprise by finding a place in the nomination list for the best goalkeeper award of the 2026 Ballon d’Or. He has secured a place in the list of 10. Along with him Thibaut Courtois, Yassine Bounou, Emiliano Martinez, David Raya and other top goalkeepers of Europe and the world have received nominations.

This nomination of Vozinha is being seen as recognition of his outstanding performance for Cape Verde in the World Cup. He played an important role under the goalpost in the country’s historic World Cup campaign. This goalkeeper has played for GD Chaves and Colo-Colo in club football.

Last year’s best goalkeeper award winner Gianluigi Donnarumma has not received a nomination this time. However PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov has secured a place in the list.

Besides Vozinha the list of 10 best goalkeepers also includes Morocco’s Yassine Bounou, Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, Switzerland’s Gregor Kobel, Spain’s Joan Garcia, Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, Senegal’s Edouard Mendy, Spain’s David Raya and Unai Simon and Russia’s Matvey Safonov.

The nomination of Arsenal’s David Raya is also notable. His performance has played an important role in winning the Premier League title.

Meanwhile the list of the best five women goalkeepers includes Ann-Katrin Berger, Cata Coll, Hannah Hampton, Lorena and Ayaka Yamashita.