Vozinha leads African trio in Yachine Trophy top 10 as Unai Simon wins

Three African goalkeepers have finished among the top 10 in the 2026 Yachine Trophy, with Cape Verde’s Vozinha ranked sixth ahead of Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy.

The award, presented at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, went to Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon, who succeeds Gianluigi Donnarumma. None of the three African contenders made the podium.

Vozinha, who plays for Colo-Colo, was the continent’s highest-ranked goalkeeper. His sixth-place finish was the strongest African result in this year’s vote, putting him above two established international goalkeepers in Bounou and Mendy.

Bounou finished eighth, continuing his presence among the leading goalkeepers in world football but slipping from his previous positions. The Morocco international was third in 2023, after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and finished fifth in the previous edition.

Mendy completed the African representation in the top 10 in ninth place. The Al-Ahli goalkeeper’s position ensured that three goalkeepers from the continent were included among the best performers of the season.

The result gives Africa a mixed record in the 2026 award. Vozinha’s sixth-place finish represents the leading performance, while Bounou’s lower position marks a decline from his earlier rankings. Although no African goalkeeper reached the podium, the continent had three representatives in the final top 10.

Unai Simon wins the award

Unai Simon took first place to claim the 2026 Yachine Trophy. The Spanish goalkeeper, listed with Athletic Bilbao, finished ahead of compatriot David Raya of Arsenal and Belgium international Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid.

Russia goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, finished fourth. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez was fifth after representing Aston Villa / Chelsea.

Vozinha was sixth, with Barcelona’s Joan Garcia seventh. Bounou, listed with Al-Hilal, came eighth, followed by Mendy of Al-Ahli and Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel in 10th.

Final 2026 Yachine Trophy ranking

1. Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao, Spain 2. David Raya Arsenal, Spain 3. Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid, Belgium 4. Matvey Safonov Paris Saint-Germain, Russia 5. Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa / Chelsea, Argentina 6. Vozinha GD Chaves / Colo-Colo, Cape Verde 7. Joan Garcia FC Barcelone, Spain 8. Yassine Bounou Al-Hilal, Morocco 9. Edouard Mendy Al-Ahli, Senegal 10. Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund, Switzerland