The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in football, recognized for honouring the best player in the world, and SA’s Ronwen Williams has been nominated for the Yachine Trophy at the ceremony. First introduced in 1956, the award has been won by legendary players like Stanley Matthews, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, and Zinedine Zidane. Over the years, the voting system has changed several times, making the current process more refined and inclusive. But how exactly does the voting process work today? And how can you cast your vote for Ronwen Williams, the South African goalkeeper nominated for the Yachine Trophy in 2024? Let’s dive in.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or Voting Process
In 2024, the voting for the Ballon d’Or is carried out by a panel of journalists. Each journalist represents one of the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings for the men’s game and the top 50 for the women’s game. These journalists cast their votes by ranking five players from a shortlist, assigning points to each ranking.
- First place gets 6 points
- Second place receives 4 points
- Third place earns 3 points
- Fourth place gets 2 points
- Fifth place receives 1 point
Since 2022, players are judged based on their performance during the European football season, which runs from August to July. The voters consider not just individual performance but also team success, sportsmanship, and fair play.
The Yachine Trophy: Ronwen Williams’ Historic Nomination
The Yachine Trophy is awarded to the best goalkeeper in the world as part of the Ballon d’Or ceremony. This year, Ronwen Williams, who has shown exceptional form for Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, made history by becoming the first African-based player nominated for the prestigious award. His standout performances in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where South Africa secured a third-place finish, were pivotal in earning him this nomination.
Williams is up against some of the world’s best goalkeepers, including Diogo Costa (Portugal), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), and Emiliano Martinez (Argentina). However, his nomination already marks a monumental moment for African football, putting him in the global spotlight.
The South African Government has even urged people to vote for Williams in the hopes of securing a historic victory for the South African goalkeeper.
How to Vote for Ronwen Williams
Voting for Ronwen Williams is easy, and every vote counts! Here’s how you can support him for the Yachine Trophy in the 2024 Ballon d’Or awards:
- Access the Voting Platform: Use the official voting link for the Ballon d’Or provided by France Football.
- Select Your Categories: Begin with the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or categories, followed by the Kopa Trophy (for the best young male player), and finally, move to the Yachine Trophy where you’ll cast your vote for Ronwen Williams.
- Submit and Validate: After making your selections, click “validate and move to the next section.” Be sure to finish by casting votes for the Coach of the Year in both the men’s and women’s categories.
- Confirm Your Vote: Complete the process by confirming your votes in all categories.
- Vote in the other language: If you voted in English, ensure that you also vote on the French side as the votes are counted separately. At the time of writing this, Williams leads the English votes but is not in the Top 5 on the French side, so be sure to vote in both.
By voting for Ronwen Williams, you’re not only supporting a talented goalkeeper but also contributing to a historic moment for African football.
Ronwen’s Competition
Ronwen Williams faces stiff competition from some of the world’s top goalkeepers. Here’s the full list of nominees for the Yachine Trophy in 2024:
- Diogo Costa (Portugal)
- Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
- Gregor Kobel (Switzerland)
- Andriy Lunin (Ukraine)
- Mike Maignan (France)
- Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)
- Emiliano Martinez (Argentina)
- Unai Simon (Spain)
- Yann Sommer (Switzerland)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
The Road Ahead for Ronwen
The 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on October 28, 2024. The votes will be tallied, and the winner will be announced during this star-studded event. While Ronwen faces tough competition, his nomination alone is a testament to his remarkable skill and the rising quality of African football.
Voting for Ronwen Williams in the Yachine Trophy is not just a vote for him but a vote for African football’s recognition on the global stage. Let’s support our star as he makes history.
Vote for Ronwen Williams here: Vote Now
Let’s help Ronwen bring the Yachine Trophy home!
Related article: Ronwen Williams Nominated Among World’s Top 10 Goalkeepers at Ballon d’Or