Aaron Ramsdale named as a contender for the Yashin Trophy in 2023 Ballon d’Or awards

Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has been shortlisted for this year’s Yashin Trophy.

He joins a cadre of other Premier League stars and international players, showcasing the level of talent present in the global footballing arena.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 06: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates having won the penalty shoot out ahead of a dejected Rodri of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 06: Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal celebrates having won the penalty shoot out ahead of a dejected Rodri of Manchester City during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 06, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Arsenal fans have another reason to celebrate as their No 1 shot-stopper Aaron Ramsdale has made it onto the 10-man shortlist for the Yashin Trophy.

The award is presented to the world’s best goalkeeper as part of the esteemed Ballon d’Or ceremonies.

Ramsdale, who has had an extraordinary year at the Emirates, finds himself in esteemed company, with a host of Premier League and international goalkeepers also vying for the honour.

Premier League representation

TOPSHOT - Argentina's goalkeeper #23 Emiliano Martinez poses with the FIFA Golden Glove award during the trophy ceremony at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)
TOPSHOT – Argentina’s goalkeeper #23 Emiliano Martinez poses with the FIFA Golden Glove award during the trophy ceremony at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. (Photo by KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP via Getty Images)

Notably, Ramsdale isn’t the only goalkeeper from England’s top-flight league to earn a nomination.

Among the shortlisted names are Andre Onana of Manchester United, Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa, and Ederson representing Manchester City.

Each goalkeeper has had a significant impact on their respective teams, making this year’s award all the more competitive.

Global talents in the race

The Yashin Trophy shortlist is not restricted to Premier League stars; it also features international talent such as Mike Maignan of AC Milan and Brice Samba, previously with Nottingham Forest and now playing for Lens.

These additions spice up the competition, making the path to the trophy that much more challenging for Ramsdale.

Previous holders and current competition

Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois, the current holder of the Yashin Trophy, will be a formidable competitor, even though he’s recovering from an injury.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen from Barcelona is also expected to pose a significant challenge in the race.

Ramsdale’s performance

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 04: Dango Ouattara of AFC Bournemouth attempts to shoot as Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal makes a save during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on March 04, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 04: Dango Ouattara of AFC Bournemouth attempts to shoot as Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal makes a save during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and AFC Bournemouth at Emirates Stadium on March 04, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In his time at the Emirates, Ramsdale has been instrumental in Arsenal’s form, even as they narrowly missed out on the league title. His consistent performances have left Mikel Arteta with little reason to consider any other options, even with David Raya’s arrival on loan from Brentford.

The Yashin Trophy

The Yashin Trophy is a football award presented annually to the best male goalkeeper.

Named after the legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, who is the only goalkeeper in history to have won the Ballon d’Or, the trophy was introduced in 2018.

The award is a part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony, which is organised by France Football.

The Yashin Trophy aims to recognise and celebrate the contributions and performances of goalkeepers, who often play a critical but sometimes overlooked role in the success of a football team.

It holds significant prestige within the footballing community, as it is one of the few accolades focused specifically on goalkeepers.

Some notable winners include Alisson Becker of Liverpool, who won the inaugural award, and Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid.

Being nominated or winning the Yashin Trophy can considerably boost a goalkeeper’s profile, cementing their status as one of the best in the world at their position.