FIFA has revealed the details of the voting by national team captains and coaches for "The Best" award for 2023, the annual ceremony honoring the best in the world of football. Among the votes that garnered significant attention in Arab and Saudi sporting circles was that of Saudi national team captain and Al-Hilal star, Salem Al-Dawsari , in the category of best goalkeeper in the world.
General context and historical background of the event
The Best FIFA Football Awards are among the most prestigious individual awards in football. The first edition was launched in 2016 after FIFA separated from the Ballon d'Or, presented by France Football magazine. The award relies on a voting system involving four parties with equal weighting (25% each): national team captains, national team coaches, a group of selected media representatives from around the world, and a public vote via FIFA's official platform, thus ensuring inclusivity and a democratic selection process.
Al-Dossari's options and the big surprise
According to official FIFA records, Salem Al-Dawsari, as captain of the Saudi national team, ranked Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma , star of Paris Saint-Germain, as the best goalkeeper in the world. His second choice was Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who guards the net for Liverpool FC. Third place went to Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer, currently playing for Inter Milan and formerly with Bayern Munich.
The biggest surprise was Al-Dawsari's omission of his Al-Hilal teammate, the outstanding Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou , from his three-man shortlist. This oversight sparked controversy among fans, especially since Bounou was one of the top contenders for the award and had an exceptional year.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
This vote comes at a time when Yassine Bounou is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world, having led the Moroccan national team to a historic achievement by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in addition to winning the Europa League title with his former club, Sevilla. Bounou finished third in the final rankings for the award, confirming his significant value on the international stage. Al-Dossari's decision, which could be interpreted as a purely technical opinion devoid of any personal or professional considerations, highlights the professionalism of the voting process but also opens the door to a discussion about evaluating players independently of their relationships within their clubs.
It is worth noting that the actual winner of “The Best” award for best goalkeeper of 2023 was Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson Moraes , Manchester City goalkeeper, who had a historic season with his team, achieving the historic treble: the English Premier League, the FA Cup, and the Champions League.
