South Africa’s number one goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams has added to his growing list of achievements after it was announced on Wednesday, 04 September that the acrobatic shot-stopper has historically made the list of Goalkeeper of the Year nominees for world football’s most prestigious individual trophy, the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy.

Not only is this a first for Africa, but the Bafana Bafana skipper makes continental history as the first ever footballer playing in Africa to be nominated for the award.

As the only African based keeper, Williams made the list of 10 best shot-stoppers in the world which include current holder, Emiliano Martez (Argentina), Unai Simon (Spain) as well as Diogo Costa (Portugal) amongst others.

To date, African football icon George Weah remains the only African to be voted the best player in the world after winning the Ballon d’Or in 1995 ahead of Germany’s Jurgen Klinsmann and Finland’s Jari Litman.

Weah was also the first non-European to win the award.  

Williams (32) has been on a meteoric rise since joining former African champions Mamelodi Sundowns from cross-town rivals and boyhood club, SuperSport United in July 2022.  

The Bafana Bafana skipper was a pivotal cog in Mamelodi Sundowns’ back-to-back titles since joining the club. A feat that elevated his place in the national team to being the number one goalkeeper.

The Gqeberha-born goalkeeper literally grabbed the challenge of being Hugo Broos’ trusted keeper with both hands, putting up undoubtedly one of the standout performances at the  CAF AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023, where he denied Cape Verde four times in a quarter-final penalty shootout.

Williams’ acrobatic and penalty saves also came to the fore in the third-place play-off against DR Congo where he saved two penalties to help his nation to a podium finish that was accompanied by him being voted the Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the continental showpiece.  

The Sundowns keeper, who is currently out nursing a shoulder injury was also instrumental in Sundowns’ African Football League (AFL) triumph, playing a crucial role as the last line of defence in helping his side to their second continental trophy after their 2016 TotalEnergies CAF Champions League success.

The Ballon d’Or awards ceremony will take place on Monday, 28 October 2024. 

Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy Nominees:

Diogo Costa (Portugal), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Gregor Kobel (Switzerland), Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Mike Maignan (France), Giorgi Mamarsdashvili (Georgia), Emiliano Martinez (Argentina), Unai Simon (Spain), Yann Sommer (Switzerland), Ronwen Williams (South Africa).

Super Eagles and Atalanta FC forward, Ademola Lookman, is one of the nominees for this year’s Ballon d’Or, which fnal ceremony holds next month.

Lookman short into great prominence after his three goals won the Europa Cup for Atalanta last May. He is potentially an African Footballer Award winner for the current season.

He was a silver medal winner with Nigeria at the last AFCON 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire last February. Being the only African on the Ballon d’or shortlist already suggest a possibility of being crowned in Africa.

Others on the ballon d’Or shortlist are Jude Bellingham who had a brilliant season for both club and country in the year under review. 

The Real Madrid superstar, won La Liga and the Champions League before reaching the Euro 2024 final with England, while Lookman’s bragging right stems from his brilliant performance with Atalanta not just in the domestic scene but also his hattrick that saw the Italian side winning the Europa Cup against Bayern Leverkusen last May.

Several Premier League stars have also been included on the 30-man shortlist. They include the Manchester City quartet of Ruben Dias, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Rodri.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal also made list same as William Saliba, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez is up for both the top award and the goalkeeping gong.

Manchester City have also been nominated for the Men’s club of the Year award after winning a fifth consecutive Premier League crown. They will battle Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Girona, and Bayer Leverkusen for the award.

Lauren James, Lauren Hemp, Lucy Bronze and Khadija Shaw are all included on the shortlist for the women’s award.

Manchester United youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho have both been nominated for the Kopa Trophy alongside Euro 2024 winner Lamine Yamal.

Vinicius Jr’s dazzling performances at Real Madrid have put the Brazilian forward in conversation to win his first Ballon d’Or and manager Carlo Ancelotti said on Friday the 23-year-old deserved to win the prestigious award.

Vinicius has netted five times and provided as many assists in the Champions League alone this season to help Madrid book a place in the final, while also scoring 13 goals in LaLiga, which they clinched for a record-extending 36th time last weekend.

The record 14-times European champions will take on German side Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1.

“He’s doing a great job,” Ancelotti told reporters on the eve of Saturday’s league trip to relegation-threatened Granada.

“He’s still got the Champions League final to come and then he’ll be at the Copa America. He’s very close, and if he has positive results in both competitions, he could well win it (Ballon d’Or).

“Before I came to coach Madrid, I saw Vinicius on TV and I thought what an incredibly talented player he looked. When I arrived here, that much was clear, and he’s improved on many things to enhance that talent.

“He’s better at evading his markers now and has improved in front of goal as well. He’s done so with a spectacular work ethic on a daily basis, he’s focused in training and recovers well after matches.

“He’s a highly disciplined professional and he deserves everything he’s achieved.”

But Ancelotti said the rest of his squad have been just as important in a campaign where several key players at Madrid have suffered injuries.

Vinicius moved to the Santiago Bernabeu from Brazil’s Flamengo in 2018.

“He’s among the best in the world and this is Vinicius’ moment because he brings us so much. He’s been important in us making the Champions League final and winning LaLiga. But we mustn’t forget how the others have contributed,” the Italian said.

“Madrid’s time is up until the first of June. After that, who knows, it might be Borussia’s moment.”

French defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is a doubt for the final after picking up an injury in their semi-final win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

“(Goalkeeper Thibaut) Courtois will play, as will (Eder) Militao. They both need the game time… (goalkeeper Andriy) Lunin has to be ready to play as well. That’s why I’ll have to assess the goalkeeping issue in the coming games,” Ancelotti said on team rotation.

“We’re not sure if Tchouameni will make it for the final but we’ll do all we can to see if he can recover. The rest will rotate, including (centre back Antonio) Rudiger and Nacho.”

-Reuters