Spain Dominates World Football as Spanish Goalkeepers Claim Both Men's and Women's Yashin Trophy Titles

Unai Simón has been crowned the world's best male goalkeeper of 2026, receiving the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony held in London on Monday evening. Cata Coll claimed the women's equivalent.

The award bears the name of Lev Yashin—the Soviet Union icon who remains the sole goalkeeper ever to win a Ballon d'Or (1963) and earned 10 nominations—and has been presented to men annually since 2019.

The contest came down to a three-way battle among Spanish goalkeepers, with Simón ultimately edging out fellow countrymen David Raya and Joan García.

Simón kept seven clean sheets as Spain's first-choice keeper throughout the World Cup, holding off competition from Raya and García—both of whom had outstanding club campaigns with Arsenal and Barcelona respectively—who also served as his backups at the tournament.

World Cup finalist Emiliano Martínez had been chasing a third consecutive victory following his wins in 2023 and 2024, but the Argentine shot-stopper went home empty-handed. Gianluigi Donnarumma, the 2025 winner and the only other goalkeeper to have claimed the award twice, did not even make the shortlist on this occasion.

Vozinha, the Cabo Verde World Cup standout who gained unexpected and unwelcome notoriety during the summer tournament at the very end of his 19-year career, had also featured among the nominees.

Every Men's Yashin Trophy Winner

Every Men's Yashin Trophy Winner

2026 Women's Yashin Trophy Winner

This marked the second edition of the Women's Yashin Trophy, an accolade introduced in 2025 to honor the world's finest female goalkeeper, with England's Hannah Hampton taking the inaugural prize following the Lionesses' victory at that summer's European Championship.

Hampton was once again shortlisted, but the 2026 honor went to Barcelona's Coll, who enjoyed a remarkable season in which the Spanish keeper helped the dominant Catalan side secure a quadruple consisting of the Liga F, Copa de la Reina, Supercopa de España, and the Champions League.

Coll, who also finished 15th in the main Ballon d'Or Féminin standings, fended off Hampton's challenge to take the trophy, with Gotham FC's Ann-Katrin Berger, Kansas City Current's Lorena, and Manchester City's Ayaka Yamashita also in contention.

Every Women's Yashin Trophy Winner