With Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams a nominee for the 2024 Yashin Trophy, rumours suggest a certain shot-stopper is the favourite to claim the award!
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Although seeing his name among the world's best goalkeepers has been a point of pride for South Africans, 90min claims Aston Villa and Argentina star Emiliano Martinez is likely to claim the award again.
"It's the South American who is most likely to scoop the prize for a second successive season after his heroics with Aston Villa in 2023/24 helped secure Champions League football," they wrote.
"He followed up his Premier League showings by winning the Copa America and the tournament's Golden Glove, adding to his 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup Golden Glove awards."
The Premier League shot-stopper was named the Yashin Trophy winner in 2023, after helping inspire his country to a memorable triumph at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Of the nominees, only he and Italy and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma can win the award a second time, with the Italian being crowned the winner in 2021 after his heroics at the 2020 UEFA European Championship.
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90min calls Williams, meanwhile, the "most surprising nominee", describing him as "the only player playing outside of Europe who is up for the award, the Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa goalkeeper shone at the Africa Cup of Nations after saving four penalties in a single shootout".
Full list of nominees:
Diogo Costa (Porto, Portugal)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain, Italy)
Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
Andriy Lunin (Real Madrid, Ukraine)
Mike Maignan (AC Milan, France)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia, Georgia)
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Unai Simon (Athletic Club, Spain)
Yann Sommer (Bayern Munich, Switzerland)
Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
