26 league games without conceding a goal with FC Barcelona will not help Marc-Andre ter Stegen to make the shortlist for the FIFA World Goalkeeper award
Last season, FC Barcelona snatched the La Liga championship, finishing ten points ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid. However, the fact that they only conceded 20 goals in 38 games is less significant in this triumph than the 70 goals they scored – of which Robert Lewandowski scored a total of 23. With ter Stegen’s 26 white vests, Barcelona equaled Deportivo La Coruna’s Spanish league record from the 1993/94 season
Bono, Courtois and Ederson outperform ter Stegen
And while national goalkeeper ter Stegen was delighted to be shortlisted as one of the five best keepers in the FIFA World Goalkeeper competition, the 31-year-old goalkeeper did not make it to the final three. Yassine Bounou, known as “Bono”, from reigning Europa League winners FC Sevilla, Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) and Ederson from treble winners Manchester City came out on top.
In addition to ter Stegen, current Man United keeper André Onana was also eliminated. The Cameroonian (27) was included in the top five primarily because of his outstanding performances in last year’s Champions League, where he played a key role in Inter’s 1-0 defeat to Man City in the final.
Three German goalkeepers and one female goalkeeper honored so far
After ter Stegen’s non-nomination, there are still three German world goalkeepers since 1987: Andreas Köpke (1996), Oliver Kahn (1999, 2001, 2002) and Manuel Neuer (2013 to 2016 and 2020). In the women’s category, Almuth Schult was the only German goalkeeper to receive this award in 2014.
Even Ann-Katrin Berger does not make the shortlist
The DFB goalkeeper Ann-Kathrin Berger from Chelsea FC, who was shortlisted for the women’s award, also failed to make the final. Mackenzie Arnold (West Ham United), Catalina Coll (FC Barcelona) and Mary Earps (Manchester United) are all up for the award.
The winners of “The Best FIFA Football Awards” will be announced in London on January 15, 2024. The international jury consists of the captains and coaches of the national teams as well as selected journalists and fans from all over the world.
