Alisson has been here before—center stage, lights on, gloves dusted with glory. The goalkeeper of Liverpool, whose saves can be viewed as a work of art in slow motion, receives another nomination for the Yashin Trophy. He had also missed two months due to a hamstring injury; he would still get ten clean sheets and would assist Liverpool to win their first league title since 2020. He already has one Yashin win in 2019 and a second-place medal in 2022; now he is on the hook to try and find a third one. And even though Liverpool supporters would like him to remain there forever, the club has already started training young Giorgi Mamardashvili, 24 years old, to take his place. Cue dramatic organ music.
The Emi Martinez Three-Peat Chase
Standing in Alisson’s way is Emi Martinez, Aston Villa’s penalty-box bouncer and reigning two-time Yashin winner. Martinez didn’t just help Villa to a sixth-place finish—he helped them into Europe, all while swatting away transfer rumors linking him to Manchester United like they were harmless midges. Eight clean sheets, countless big saves, and that unmistakable swagger make him a serious contender for a three-peat.
David Raya: Arsenal’s Calm Conductor
David Raya, meanwhile, has been playing football’s version of chess from his own penalty area. Taking Aaron Ramsdale’s spot wasn’t just a coup—it was a statement. He’s got the Golden Glove two years running, and his pinpoint long passes turn defense into instant attack. If Arsenal finally break their trophy drought, expect Raya to have a hand—or glove—in it.
Matz Sels and the Surprise Package
Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels might not have the superstar name recognition, but he’s got the stats—13 clean sheets to share the Golden Glove with Raya. He’s the unsung hero in a Forest side that’s heading back to European competition for the first time since 1996.
The rest of the field? Bounou, Chevalier, Courtois, Donnarumma, Oblak, and Sommer—names that could make any striker nervous. But when the curtain rises on September 22 at the Ballon d’Or ceremony, all eyes will be on one thing: whether Alisson can add another chapter to his already gilded goalkeeping legacy.
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