Édouard Mendy nominated for 2026 Yachine Trophy

Édouard Mendy has been shortlisted for the 2026 Yachine Trophy, placing the Senegal goalkeeper among the contenders for the year’s top individual award in his position. The nomination adds another distinction to a season in which he collected major honours with both club and country.

The 10-goalkeeper shortlist was announced on 8 September as part of the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards. Mendy is joined by Emiliano Martínez, David Raya, Thibaut Courtois, Yassine Bounou, Cape Verde’s Vozinha and France’s Matveï Safonov, among others. The Al-Ahli captain also won the Saudi Pro League Golden Glove after recording 14 clean sheets, making 46 saves and stopping three penalties.

Mendy helped Al-Ahli retain the Asian Champions League, starting the final against Machida Zelvia and keeping his place as the Saudi club won 1-0 after extra time. He also played every one of Senegal’s seven matches during the country’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, completed in January 2026 with victory over Morocco.

This is Mendy’s third Yachine Trophy nomination. He previously made the shortlist in 2021 and 2022, finishing second to Gianluigi Donnarumma in 2021. His 2026 candidacy follows a campaign that also included appearances for Senegal at the World Cup before a knee injury against Norway ended his tournament.