Borussia Dortmund's first-choice goalkeeper, Gregor Kobel, has been nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or Goalkeeper of the Year award. The nomination list for the 2026 award was released on Tuesday with the Swiss international named among ten candidates.
Kobel kept 15 clean sheets in the Bundesliga last season and also impressed for Switzerland at the World Cup. The official Ballon d'Or website highlighted his unique qualities, stating: "What really sets Kobel apart is his decision-making, an innate ability to calibrate in a millisecond and correctly read when to go, and when to stay." It added: "In the six-yard box he is commanding, authoritative, while his elite shot-stopping is bolstered by the possession of razor-sharp reflexes."
Gregor Kobel has developed into one of the most reliable figures in the Borussia Dortmund squad in recent years. His strengths lie not only in physical attributes like his size and reach but particularly in his mental fortitude and game intelligence. The quick decision-making praised by the Ballon d'Or jury is a result of intensive analysis and experience. Kobel doesn't just act as a last line of defence but often as a first attacker through precise distribution and clear communication with his back line.
His performances are a cornerstone of Borussia's strong early Bundesliga record. The team sits third in the standings after two matchdays with two wins. Having scored five and conceded just two goals, the squad has a +3 goal difference. This defensive solidity is fundamentally linked to the security between the posts.
The competition for the award is international and of the highest caliber. Alongside Kobel, nine other goalkeepers received nominations. This includes established world-class figures like Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid and Argentina's Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa. Younger talents like Joan García of FC Barcelona and Matvey Safonov of Paris Saint-Germain are also in the running. The full list of nominees shows the global appreciation for the goalkeeping position.
| Goalkeeper | Club | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Gregor Kobel | Borussia Dortmund | Switzerland |
| Yassine Bounou | Al-Hilal | Morocco |
| Thibaut Courtois | Real Madrid | Belgium |
| Joan García | FC Barcelona | Spain |
| Edouard Mendy | Al-Ahli | Senegal |
| Emiliano Martínez | Aston Villa | Argentina |
| David Raya | Arsenal | Spain |
| Vozinha | GD Chaves/Colo-Colo | Cape Verde |
| Unai Simón | Athletic Club | Spain |
| Matvey Safonov | Paris Saint-Germain | Russia |
The nomination is a fine personal accolade for Kobel during a period where BVB is focused on its next competitive fixture. On September 12, Borussia Dortmund hosts SC Paderborn 07 at home. Ahead of this match, coach Edin Terzić must cope without several injured players. According to the current injuries list, Filippo Mané, Giannis Konstantelias, and Justin Lerma are currently sidelined. Their return will be important for the upcoming busy schedule.
Despite these absences, the club looks ahead to the next tasks with optimism. The team aims to continue its positive early form of six points from two games and use their goalkeeper's nomination as an additional boost. The complete schedule for the coming weeks, including all fixtures, can be found on the club's fixtures page. The next objective is clear: three points against Paderborn on September 12, 2026.
