Emi Martinez wins Ballon d'Or's best goalkeeper award

Getty Images

Emi Martinez wins 2023 Yashin Trophy as the world's best goalkeeper after World Cup heroics with Argentina

Aston Villa star Emi Martinez has been awarded the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper for 2023 at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris.

Villa's Martinez wins Yashin Trophy
Argentina keeper shone at World Cup
Edges out Ederson and Bounou

WHAT HAPPENED? The Argentine claimed the trophy on Monday night following his heroics for Argentina, as they won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 31-year-old beat, in order, Manchester City's Ederson, Morocco star Yassine Bounou, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois, Barcelona's Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Cameroon international Andre Onana, Croatia's Dominik Livakovic, Arsenal's Aaron Ramsdale, AC Milan's Mike Maignan and Lens' Brice Samba.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Martinez becomes only the fifth winner of this prestigious accolade. Previous winners of the award include Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Paris Saint-Germain's Gianluigi Donnarumma and Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois.

DID YOU KNOW? Only one goalkeeper has ever won the Ballon d'Or: Lev Yashin, in 1963. So, in a bid to ensure more shot-stoppers were recognised at their annual ceremonies in Paris, France Football introduced the Yashin Trophy in 2019 to recognise the best goalkeeper.

Article continues below

IN A PHOTO: