Moroccan international goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has made history, ranking 13th in the prestigious 67th edition of the Ballon d’Or 2023 and becoming the first Moroccan ever to be awarded the prize. He also won third place in the fourth edition of the Yachine Trophy 2023.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony took place on Monday at the Chatelet theater in Paris, crowning Lionel Messi, Argentina’s global champion, for the eighth time, ahead of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.
Bounou, commonly known as “Bono” by his supporters, was selected for the pair of awards following an amazing season. He finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup with Morocco and won the Europa League with Sevilla FC.
With these awards, Bounou surpasses renowned figures in the world of football, including Karim Benzema and Harry Kane.
Argentinian player Emiliano Martinez, who was victorious in the 2022 World Cup, clinched the Yachine Trophy for the best goalkeeper, but he ranked 15th in the Ballon d’Or.
Bounou’s dual recognition with these prestigious awards highlights his remarkable journey in football and solidifies his status as one of the world’s top goalkeepers.
Bounou began his career with Wydad Casablanca in Morocco before moving on to Spain where he became professional with Atlético Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Girona, and finally Sevilla, where he has played since 2019.
Playing now in Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal has committed €21 million for Bounou’s transfer.