Ballon d’Or 2021: Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma won the 2021 Yashin Trophy at the Ballon D’or Awards in Paris on Monday night. The Paris Saint Germain shot-stopper had a fantastic season with his national squad as he helped them in winning the UEFA Euros this summer.
Gianluigi Donnarumma was the star of the penalty shootout in the final for Italy against England at the Wembley Stadium. He saved the two crucial penalties by Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka which gifted the Italians the trophy.
Moreover, he was phenomenal at the club level too with AC Milan. Gianluigi Donnarumma beat the likes of Edouard Mendy and Jan Oblak to lay his hands on the coveted trophy which is deemed as the Ballon d’Or for goalkeepers.
Edouard Mendy who won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea will feel hard done especially after the wonderful season he had but Donnarumma is a deserved winner.
Edouard Mendy has been simply fantastic in a Chelsea shirt ever since he’s been at the club. Personally scouted by Petr Cech, the former Lille man is currently one of the best around.
Mendy was tremendous in last season’s UEFA Champions League having conceded just four goals throughout the competition. His performance against Real Madrid CF in the second leg was especially important.
Ballon d’Or 2021: Chelsea fans react as Gianluigi Donnarumma beats Edouard Mendy
It is very obvious that Chelsea fans were not happy with the fact that Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Yashin Trophy. Many of the supporters took to various social media platforms to express their dissatisfaction.
Some of them wrote that in their views, Edouard Mendy was still the deserved winner. While on the other hand others said that they were sure Edouard Mendy will win the award the next year.
“Of course I think I can win it. (If I do win it) I think it would be something I would have deserved. It is something I have worked so hard to get, so it would be a great pride given my journey,” said Edouard Mendy before the event.
“It is an incredible achievement for me and I am really proud to be in Chelsea and to be part of the club,” he said after finishing second behind Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“We did an excellent job last year and we continue this year. Hopefully, everything will continue well. See you next year!”, he smiled.
“For football, 2021 is the best year of my life because it was an amazing season, we won the biggest title in Europe in my first year in a big club. It’s my best year at the moment but I hope the next years will be better or the same.“