Dortmund’s Kobel nominated for Ballon d’Or Goalkeeper of the Year award
| Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images |
Gregor Kobel has been named among the nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper was one of 10 candidates for the award announced on Tuesday after keeping 15 clean sheets in the Bundesliga last season and impressing for Switzerland at the World Cup.
“What really sets Kobel apart is his decision-making, an innate ability to calibrate in a millisecond and correctly read when to go, and when to stay. And unlike so many of his peers, when the risk is deemed 50/50, he chooses to stay,” a text on the Ballon d’Or website stated.
“In the six-yard box he is commanding, authoritative, while his elite shot-stopping is bolstered by the possession of razer-sharp reflexes.”
See the full list of nominees below:
2026 Ballon d’Or Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year nominees:
- Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund/Switzerland)
- Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal/Morocco)
- Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium)
- Joan García (FC Barcelona/Spain)
- Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli/Senegal)
- Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa/Chelsea/Argentina)
- David Raya (Arsenal/Spain)
- Vozinha (GD Chaves/Colo-Colo/Cape Verde)
- Unai Simón (Athletic Club/Spain)
- Matvey Safonov (Paris Saint-Germain/Russia)
