The world’s football royalty is set to gather in Paris on Monday, October 28, for the 2024 Ballon d’Or gala, with South Africa’s own Ronwen Williams nominated for the Yashin Trophy. As the first South African and Africa-based player ever nominated for a Ballon d’Or award, Williams has already made history. Now, he’ll be hoping to add another milestone by taking home the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper.

Ronwen Williams’ Rivals for the Yashin Trophy

Williams is in esteemed company for the award, competing against an impressive list of top goalkeepers:

Diogo Costa (Portugal / FC Porto)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy / PSG)
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland / Borussia Dortmund)
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine / Real Madrid)
Mike Maignan (France / AC Milan)
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia / Valencia)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina / Aston Villa)
Unai Simon (Spain / Athletic Bilbao)
Yann Sommer (Switzerland / Inter Milan)

Each of these keepers has displayed brilliance for their clubs and countries over the past season, making the competition for the Yashin Trophy intense.

What Does It Take to Win?

The Yashin Trophy, named in honor of Soviet goalkeeping legend Lev Yashin, evaluates goalkeepers on three main criteria: individual performance, character and impact on matches, and contributions to team achievements. Williams’ exceptional form for Mamelodi Sundowns and the South African national team this year could prove influential to the jury, who consider factors like decisive saves, resilience, and leadership on the pitch.

Who Chooses the Winners?

The Yashin Trophy winner is selected by an international panel of expert journalists, one from each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings. Jurors rank their top three goalkeepers from the nominee list, assigning 5, 3, and 1 points, respectively. The goalkeeper with the most points takes home the trophy. In case of a tie, the winner is determined by the number of first-place votes.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or Awards Ceremony

This year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony takes place at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, the iconic venue that has hosted the event since 2019. The star-studded event will start at 19:00 GMT (23:00 South African time) and be co-hosted by Chelsea and Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogba alongside journalist Sandy Heribert.

In addition to the Yashin Trophy, other major awards will be presented, including the Ballon d’Or for Player of the Year, the Kopa Trophy for the best U21 player, Coach of the Year, Club of the Year, the Gerd Muller Trophy for top scorer, and the Socrates Award for humanitarian contributions by a player.

How to Watch the Ballon d’Or Ceremony

Fans around the world can catch the Ballon d’Or awards gala live on the L’Equipe YouTube channel, though some regions may have viewing restrictions. The ceremony promises an electrifying night of celebration, honoring the most talented and influential football players globally.

Williams, bolstered by strong support back home and abroad, remains optimistic about his chances. Whether or not he secures the Yashin Trophy, his journey to the Ballon d’Or stage has already inspired many across the African continent and beyond.