Unai Simon won the 2026 Yachine Trophy, while Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha finished sixth to lead three African representatives in the top 10.

The award was presented at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, with Simon succeeding Gianluigi Donnarumma as the goalkeeper of the season. However, none of the African contenders reached the podium.

Vozinha’s sixth-place finish was the strongest result among the continent’s goalkeepers. The Cape Verde international, who plays for Colo-Colo, finished ahead of Morocco’s Yassine Bounou and Senegal’s Edouard Mendy in the final global standings.

His ranking represents a notable outcome for African football, although he was unable to challenge for the prize itself.

Bounou was named eighth. The Al-Hilal goalkeeper had finished third in 2023, following Morocco’s run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and was fifth in the previous edition.

His 2026 position therefore represents a decline from his recent best finishes, although he remains among the most highly regarded goalkeepers in international football.

Mendy completed the African representation in ninth place. The Al-Ahli goalkeeper’s inclusion ensured that three players from the continent featured among the top 10.

David Raya was second for Arsenal, with Real Madrid and Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois third. Paris Saint-Germain’s Matvey Safonov was fourth, while Emiliano Martinez, listed with Aston Villa / Chelsea, finished fifth.

Joan Garcia of FC Barcelona was seventh, one place ahead of Bounou, and Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel completed the top 10 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 Barcelona, Spain 8. Yassine Bounou Al-Hilal, Morocco 9. Edouard Mendy Al-Ahli, Senegal 10. Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund, Switzerland

The final ranking gives African football a mixed outcome: Vozinha recorded the continent’s best finish, but Bounou slipped from his previous positions and no African goalkeeper made the top three.