FOUR Premier League goalkeepers have been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy 2022.
The Prem quartet consists of Liverpool stopper Alisson, Man City No1 Ederson, Tottenham’s first choice Hugo Lloris, and Chelsea’s safe pair of hands Edouard Mendy.
However, it’s unlikely any of the aforementioned group will win the prize as Real Madrid goalie Thibaut Courtois is favourite to lift the gong.
Alisson played a key role in helping the Reds attain the domestic double – consisting to the FA and League Cup last season.
The Brazilian is no stranger to the award he scooped upon its inception in 2019.
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Meanwhile, Lloris inspired Tottenham to clinch the Prem’s fourth spot in the previous campaign.
While Ederson ensured City retained their second Prem title in as many years.
Blues stopper Mendy narrowly missed out on last year’s Yashin prize to AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
And he’s set for heartache once again after Cortouis’ heroics meant Los Blancos were the worthy winners of the La Liga and Champions League.
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Award to be presented at Ballon d'Or award ceremony 2022
The remarkable feat has propelled Cortouis above his Prem rivals in the race for the award.
But he’s also got to thwart competition from – Atletico Madrid goalie Jan Oblak, Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, Sevilla stopper Yassine Bounou, AC Milan’s Mike Maignan, plus Eintracht Frankfurt counterpart Kevin Trapp – to clinch the coveted prize.
And for the first time since 2005, the Yashin trophy winner won’t share the stage with Lionel Messi who’s been left off the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist after a poor debut season at PSG.
Messi retained the award for the seventh time last year, but he won’t be given the opportunity to win it for an eighth.
The Argentine’s omission caused fury amongst football fans who took to social media to express frustration over his absence.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo is in with a shout of clinching the prize this year despite a tumultuous spell with Man United last season.
Other stars on the shortlist include Real hotshot Karim Benzema, former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger, and Reds attacker Mo Salah.
Courtois also made the list – but a goalie will never win the prize with the likes of Benzema gunning for it, he thinks.
If successful, the Belgian will be the first keeper since Russian ace Lev Yashin to lift the Ballon d’Or who done so in 1963.
His amazing feat led to the Yashin award being named after him.
