The trio of finalists contending for the coveted FIFA The Best award for the world’s top goalkeeper has been announced.
Yassine Bounou of Morocco, Thibaut Courtois from Belgium, and Brazil’s Ederson are the three goalkeepers vying for the FIFA The Best 2023 trophy.
The final contenders were confirmed after the initial five finalists, which included Cameroonian André Onana and German Marc-André ter Stegen, were eliminated from the contention.
Despite being named African Goalkeeper of the Year recently, Bounou’s absence from the 2023 African Eleven was a surprise to many.
His nomination is primarily attributed to his exceptional performances with Sevilla FC in the Europa League before his move to Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia last summer.
Notably, the selection criteria focused on performances recorded between December 19, 2022, and August 20, 2023, excluding his contributions during the 2022 World Cup with the Moroccan national team.
Bounou, the stalwart for the Atlas Lions with 58 caps, played a pivotal role in Sevilla’s triumph in the C3 competition. Standing tall at 1.92 meters, his remarkable displays thwarted the likes of Manchester United, Juventus, and AS Roma in the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, respectively.
His standout performance in the penalty shootout against Roma in Budapest on May 31 clinched the title for Sevilla, elevating them to a record 7th title, a feat that salvaged their season after finishing 12th in La Liga.
This marks the second consecutive year that the Moroccan goalkeeper finds himself among the final contenders for the prestigious award.
Despite his commendable efforts, Bounou faces stiff competition. Ederson, the Brazilian shot-stopper, emerges as the frontrunner, courtesy of his historic treble-winning season—securing the domestic cup, league championship, and the coveted Champions League title with Manchester City, making him a formidable favorite for the accolade.
