Unai Simon and Cata Coll win Yashin Trophy at Ballon d’Or 2026

Unai Simon and Cata Coll won the men’s and women’s Yashin Trophy respectively at the Ballon d’Or 2026 ceremony at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26, as France Football honoured the year’s top goalkeepers.

The Yashin Trophy is handed out annually to the best-performing goalkeepers in men’s and women’s football. Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon claimed the men’s prize after serving as Spain’s No. 1 as they won the FIFA World Cup 2026 and after a solid LaLiga campaign for Athletic Club. Barcelona goalkeeper Cata Coll received the women’s award after winning a quadruple with Barcelona — Liga F, the Copa de la Reina, the Spanish Super Cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

Simon was one of 10 goalkeepers nominated for the men’s trophy. His international teammate David Raya and Barcelona’s Joan Garcia were among the Spanish nominees, with Raya having starred for Arsenal in their Premier League-winning campaign. Paris Saint-Germain’s Matvey Safonov, who won the UEFA Champions League with the French champions, was also named among the favourites.

Other goalkeepers included on the men’s shortlist were Argentine veteran Emiliano Martinez, who reached the World Cup final, Vozinha of Cape Verde, Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund) and Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal).

The women’s list featured two National Women’s Soccer League nominees — Ann-Katrin Berger of Gotham FC and Lorena of Kansas City Current — alongside Barcelona’s Cata Coll, Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita and Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton.

UNAI SIMON IS THE 2026 MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR! The 2026 World Cup winner 🧤🌎#ballondor pic.twitter.com/U5qzuFo2Rz

CATA COLL IS THE 2026 WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/f38udAQxM2

The Yashin Trophy recognises the best-performing goalkeeper in men’s football, while the women’s award recognises the best goalkeeper in women’s football.