Morocco’s international goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, was nominated for the Ballon d’Or on Wednesday.
Announced on Wednesday, the nomination shortlisted Yassine Bounou alongside a number of world-class footballers including Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappe.
The shortlist for the world’s most prestigious individual award was unveiled ahead of the ceremony in Paris on October 30.
This is the second nomination Bounou received today. The talented footballer made it onto the list of nominees for the prestigious 2023 Yachine Trophy, which is presented annually by France Football to honor the outstanding goalkeeper of the year.
The “Atlas Lion” is renowned for the pivotal role of the Spanish club Sevilla before recently making a move to Saudi club AHilal.
Bounou, widely regarded as one of the greatest Moroccan footballers, earned several nicknames during his World Cup appearances, with “The Smiling Hero” being one of them.
Bounou’s exceptional skills have not gone unnoticed in the past. In September 2022, he clinched the Zamora Trophy for the 2021-2022 season, becoming the first Moroccan and Arab to claim this prestigious award. This historic achievement also marks the first time a Sevilla goalkeeper has received this accolade in the history of La Liga.
