Ballon d'Or Awards: Lionel Messi's Argentina teammate beats Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns star Ronwen Williams to Yashin Trophy

South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams missed out on the Yashin Trophy during Monday night's 2024 Ballon d'Or awards ceremony in Paris, France.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Yashin Trophy as the best goalkeeper in the world having lifted the 2024 Copa America title with Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Martinez became the first keeper to win back-to-back Yashin Trophies having also scooped the accolade in 2023.

Williams finished in ninth place in the final ranking for the Yashin Trophy - just above Gregor Kobel of Switzerland and Borussia Dortmund.

Nevertheless, the Gqeberha-born player is the first South African footballer to be nominated for a Ballon d'Or award.

He also made history as the first African-based footballer to make the Ballon d'Or nominees list.

Martinez finished first, and Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon finished as runner-up. In third was Real Madrid's Andriy Lunin, while PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma and AC Milan's Mike Maignan round out the top five.

In sixth was Inter Milan's Yann Sommer, while Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is on loan at Valencia from Liverpool, was seventh. Porto's Diogo Costa, Williams and Kobel rounded out the top 10.

Williams will travel back to South Africa from France having missed Sunday's PSL match between Sundowns and Polokwane City due to his Ballon d'Or commitment.

The 32-year-old is also likely to miss Wednesday's league clash against Cape Town City and make his return to action when Masandawana take on Kaizer Chiefs in a Carling Knockout quarter-final match on Saturday.