Yassine Bounou and Edouard Mendy nominated for 2026 Ballon d’Or goalkeeper award

France Football has announced the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or goalkeeper awards, with Morocco international Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy included on the men’s shortlist.

Bounou, who plays for Al Hilal and is a key member of the Morocco national team, is among 10 candidates for the men’s prize. Mendy, the Al-Ahli goalkeeper, is also in contention after representing Senegal during the qualification and international football calendar.

The full men’s shortlist is:

– Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Al Hilal) – Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid) – Joan Garcia (Spain, Barcelona) – Gregor Kobel (Switzerland, Borussia Dortmund) – Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Chelsea) – Edouard Mendy (Senegal, Al-Ahli) – David Raya (Spain, Arsenal) – Matvey Safonov (Russia, Paris Saint-Germain) – Unai Simon (Spain, Athletic Club) – Vozinha (Cabo Verde, Colo-Colo)

The nominations recognise performances during a season that included major domestic competitions across Europe, the UEFA Champions League and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Those events have contributed to what France Football describes as one of the most competitive Ballon d’Or races of recent years, with the goalkeeper award forming part of the wider ceremony celebrating the leading players in men’s and women’s football.

Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll is among the five nominees for the women’s goalkeeper award. Her inclusion means Barcelona are represented in the selections announced by the French magazine, alongside the club’s presence in the wider Ballon d’Or nominations.

The women’s shortlist is:

– Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC) – Cata Coll (Barcelona) – Hannah Hampton (Chelsea) – Lorena (Kansas City Current) – Ayaka Yamashita (Manchester City)

Berger, Hampton, Lorena and Yamashita complete a varied list featuring goalkeepers from clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League, Liga F, the Women’s Super League and the FA Women’s Super League.

The 2026 awards follow a season shaped by both club and international football. The domestic campaigns in Europe’s major leagues, the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup all formed part of the period considered for the honours.

France Football published the nominee lists through its official Ballon d’Or channels, with the men’s and women’s goalkeeping awards announced separately as part of the wider ceremony.