Russian goalkeeper Matvei Safonov finished fourth in the voting for the 2026 Lev Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in London on October 26, narrowly missing the podium behind Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois by just 10 points while his club Paris Saint-Germain was named the best club of the season.
The annual football awards gala in England brought together the sport’s top performers, with Spain and Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon claiming the Yashin Trophy after receiving 351 points in the global voting panel organized by L’Equipe and Groupe Amaury alongside UEFA. Arsenal’s David Raya finished second with 223 points, while Courtois secured third place with 77 points. Safonov, representing Paris Saint-Germain and the Russian national team, gathered 67 points to place fourth in his appearance among the world’s top-ranked shot-stoppers.
How Safonov and the Leading Yashin Trophy Contenders Finished
The voting spread across the top ten revealed a tight contest just outside the medals, where Safonov edged past several established international names. Argentina’s Emiliano Martinez, who plays for Aston Villa and Chelsea, finished directly behind the Russian goalkeeper in fifth place with 61 points, according to full totals released in London.
The remaining spots in the top ten featured Vozinha from Colo-Colo in sixth with 45 points, Joan Garcia of Barcelona in seventh with 34 points, Yassine Bounou of Al-Hilal in eighth with 30 points, Edouard Mendy of Al-Ahli in ninth with 8 points, and Gregor Kobel of Borussia Dortmund in tenth with 4 points.
| Rank | Goalkeeper | Club / Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unai Simon | Athletic Bilbao / Spain | 351 |
| 2 | David Raya | Arsenal / Spain | 223 |
| 3 | Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid / Belgium | 77 |
| 4 | Matvei Safonov | Paris Saint-Germain / Russia | 67 |
| 5 | Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa / Chelsea / Argentina | 61 |
The voting margin left Safonov precisely 10 points shy of Courtois. The award itself honors the legacy of Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, who won the Ballon d’Or in 1963. The specific trophy for best goalkeeper was established in 2019.
Trophies and Domestic Success Behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Standout Season
Safonov’s fourth-place finish followed a remarkably busy campaign where Paris Saint-Germain collected a slew of major titles. During the 2025/26 season, the Russian goalkeeper made 27 appearances across all competitions for PSG, recording 12 clean sheets. His resume for the period included domestic triumphs in the French Ligue 1 championship and the domestic Super Cup, alongside continental and global hardware.
🏆 MEN'S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (YASHIN TROPHY) — 2026Player — Club1 🇪🇸 Unai Simón — Athletic Club2 🇪🇸 David Raya — Arsenal3 🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois — Real Madrid4 🇷🇺 Matvey Safonov — PSG5 🇦🇷 Emiliano Martínez — Chelsea6 🇨🇻 Vozinha — Colo-Colo7 🇪🇸 Joan García — Barcelona8…
Paris Saint-Germain secured the UEFA Champions League title, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup. In the latter competition, Safonov delivered a memorable performance in the final against Brazilian side Flamengo by stopping four consecutive penalties in the shootout. These achievements propelled his club to be crowned the best club of the year at the London ceremony.
Reflecting his journey to the French capital, Safonov originally signed with Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024 following his departure from FC Krasnodar, a club where he developed through the academy ranks, served as team captain, and made 175 total appearances while keeping 53 clean sheets. His transfer commanded a reported 20 million euros, establishing a record fee paid by any French club for a goalkeeper.
Reactions from Moscow to Paris Following the Ceremony
While the gala unfolded in England, Safonov remained on club duty in France, where he anchored the Paris Saint-Germain defense in a league match against Lyon. Domestic commentators and former players weighed in on his trajectory among the global elite. Former Spartak Moscow and Soviet Union goalkeeper Anzor Kavazashvili noted that reaching fourth place represented an excellent result for the young Russian international, while emphasizing that sustained excellence over multiple years is required to claim the absolute top spot.
It doesn't surprise me at all that you are one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I see how hard you work, how much effort you give, and how much you think about your craft even outside the pitch. Marina
Safonov’s wife, Marina Kondratyuk, shared a public message on her Telegram channel expressing pride in his milestone and predicting future victories on the international stage. Following the awards, the goalkeeper returned immediately to the club’s training ground to prepare for upcoming fixtures in domestic and European play.