Nnadozie earns FIFA Best Goalkeeper nomination after Ballon d’Or top four finish
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie has added another milestone to her remarkable year, earning a nomination for The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award just weeks after finishing fourth in the prestigious Women’s Yashin Trophy at the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony.
The Super Falcons star, who recently transferred from Paris FC to Brighton, is the only African goalkeeper on FIFA’s elite shortlist. Her inclusion comes on the heels of a historic Ballon d’Or performance, where she became the first Nigerian and first Super Falcons player to break into the top five of the Yashin Trophy rankings.
Nnadozie’s 2025 season was nothing short of spectacular. She played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, delivering clutch saves and commanding presence throughout the tournament.
At the Ballon d’Or ceremony held at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, Nnadozie stood among the world’s best, finishing behind England’s Hannah Hampton, Germany’s Ann-Katrin Berger, and Spain’s Cata Coll. Her fourth-place finish was hailed across Africa as a breakthrough moment for women’s football on the continent.
Now, with her nomination for FIFA’s top goalkeeping honor, Nnadozie continues to blaze a trail for African athletes in the global arena. She joins a formidable list that includes Hampton, Berger, Coll, Christiane Endler of Chile, Anna Moorhouse of England, Hannah Hampton of Chelsea, and Phallon Tullis-Joyce of the United States.
The winner of The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award will be determined by votes from national team coaches, captains, journalists, and fans.
