Donnarumma is chosen goalkeeper of the year by France Football

Gianluigi Donnarumma has become the winner of the 2021 Yashin Trophy, recognition granted by France Football as one more act of the Golden Ball award ceremony and which marks the best goalkeeper of the year. The Italian outnumber his teammates Ederson (Brazil – Manchester City), Schmeichel (Denmark – Leicester), Mendy (Senegal- Chelsea), Courtois (Belgium – Real Madrid), Emi Martínez (Argentina – Aston Villa), Oblak (Slovenia – Atlético), Neuer (Germany – Bayern), Handanovic (Slovenia – Inter) and Keylor Navas (Costa Rica – PSG).

“We made all Italians happy with the Euro. I also want to thank everyone who has made the transfer to PSG possible. I hope I can win everything with this club. Thanks to my family, my girlfriend, and all the people who have done possible this award “ he said in a surprising first speech in which he forgot to mention Milan, where he grew up as a footballer, and did celebrate his controversial departure to PSG this summer. Later, he rectified: “This award is the result of work with Milan, with Italy, thanks to all my teammates, Milan and all my coaches.”

The 22-year-old goalkeeper finished the season at Milan, with whom he finished second in Serie A. In summer he achieved the great argument for his coronation with the achievement of Euro 2020 having a great share of prominence in the penalties of the semifinals and the final. His start to the 2021-22 season at PSG is being somewhat more complicated, taking into account that so far he is dividing the minutes with Keylor Navas.

The Yashin Trophy was created in 2019 and the award is named after the legendary Soviet goalkeeper Lev Yashin, to date the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or in 1963. As these awards were not celebrated in 2020 due to the pandemic, the only player to have this trophy in his career is Alisson, who won it in 2019 after being champion of the Champions League and the Copa América the same year.