South Africans expressed disappointment after Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns star Ronwen Williams lost out on the prestigious Yashin Trophy for the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or Awards. The award, held at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet on October 28, was ultimately given to Argentina’s Emiliano Martínez, who plays for Aston Villa.
Williams, the only African nominee in the category, faced tough competition from elite goalkeepers including Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Martínez. Although Williams delivered an impressive season with 22 clean sheets in the league, the Yashin Trophy judges ranked him 9th, while Martínez claimed the top spot for the second consecutive year.
The decision sparked significant backlash on social media, with many South Africans feeling that Williams’ performance was undervalued in favor of Martínez, whose clean sheet record was notably lower. Social media influencer Chris Excel echoed the sentiment, tweeting: “Ronwen Williams – 22 Clean sheets in the league. Martinez – 4 clean sheets. His only crime is being African.”
Despite missing out on the trophy, Williams’ nomination marked a significant achievement, representing African talent on the world stage. However, the ranking has left fans debating whether the Yashin Trophy truly reflects goalkeeping excellence, with calls for greater recognition of African players in global awards.