Why Bounou did not receive the Yachine trophy

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By: Manu Tournoux

Why Bounou did not receive the Yachine trophy

The 2023 Ballon d’Or winners may have caused controversy. Particularly when it comes to the best designated goalkeeper.

This is one of the big questions arising from the Ballon d’Or ceremony observed Monday evening in Paris. Why Yassine Bounou, 13e and first goalkeeper in the hierarchy of 30 named finalists, did not inherit the famous Yachine trophy awarded to the best goalkeeper of the year?

This individual distinction went to the last bastion of the Argentinian world champions Emiliano Martinez. A success capitalized mainly on the Qatari tournament, like Lionel Messi, for the Aston Villa goalkeeper, who was not necessarily more convincing than his Moroccan and Sevillian counterpart over the past season.

Cited only 42 times

Why such a verdict? Because the voting journalists requested spoke distinctly for the ranking of the Ballon d’Or and that of the Yachine trophy. Asked to nominate their Top 3 of the season for this second vote, the 92 voters only cited Yassine Bounou 42 times – compared to 76 quotes for the benefit of Emiliano Martinez. A gap which also explains the position of first runner-up of the Brazilian Ederson, ahead of the Lion of the Atlas.

The ranking of the Yachine Trophy 2023:
1. Emiliano Martinez (Argentina, Aston Villa): 290 points.
2. Ederson (Brazil, Manchester City): 197 points.
3. Yassine Bounou (Morocco, Sevilla FC then Al-Hilal): 154 points.
4. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid): 81 points.
5. Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany, FC Barcelona): 47 points.
6. André Onana (Cameroon, Inter Milan then Manchester United): 44 points.
7. Dominik Livakovic (Croatia, Dinamo Zagreb then Fenerbahçe): 9 points.
8. Aaron Ramsdale (England, Arsenal): 5 points.
9. Mike Maignan (France, AC Milan): 1 point.
10. Brice Samba (France, Lens): 0 points.

Manu Tournoux

Written by:

Manu Tournoux

Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, his expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans.