Vozinha Earns 2026 Ballon d’Or Goalkeeper of the Year Nomination
Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha has been included among the 10 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after a World Cup run that made the 40-year-old one of the tournament’s standout figures.
Vozinha, now with Chilean club Colo-Colo, helped Cape Verde reach the knockout stage before their campaign ended with an extra-time defeat to Argentina. His most notable display came in the group phase, when he produced seven saves in a 0-0 draw against eventual champions Spain.
The nomination follows a remarkable rise in profile for the goalkeeper. Before the World Cup, he had completed his second season with Portuguese second-tier club Chaves, making 19 appearances. He subsequently joined Colo-Colo and has amassed more than 29 million Instagram followers.
Raya, Courtois and Safonov among contenders
Arsenal’s David Raya, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov are also on the shortlist. The field includes nominees from clubs in Europe, Saudi Arabia and South America.
There is no place, however, for reigning Yashin Trophy winner Gianluigi Donnarumma. Liverpool’s Alisson Becker has also been omitted, as have France’s Mike Maignan and England’s Jordan Pickford, both World Cup first-choice goalkeepers.
2026 Goalkeeper of the Year nominees
- Yassine Bounou — Al Hilal
- Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid
- Joan García — Barcelona
- Gregor Kobel — Borussia Dortmund
- Emiliano Martínez — Chelsea
- Édouard Mendy — Al Ahli
- David Raya — Arsenal
- Matvey Safonov — Paris Saint-Germain
- Unai Simón — Athletic Bilbao
- Vozinha — Colo-Colo
The winner will be revealed at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26.
