The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has announced its nominees for the 2024 World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year with Luís Ángel Malagón being the only player outside of Europe to receive a nomination.
Since 1987, the IFFHS has been announcing the best goalkeeper for each year as Belgium's Jean-Marie Pfaff won the inaugural edition. Across the next 36 years, only three goalkeepers have won the title on five occasions: Iker Casillas (Spain); Gianluigi Buffon (Italy); Manuel Neuer (Germany). Recent winners of the award include Ederson of Manchester City, Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois and Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG.
The 2024 list includes last year's award recipient, Ederson and Real Madrid pair Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin. Other nominees include Liverpool's Alisson, World Cup and two-time Copa América winner Emiliano Martínez and Manchester United's André Onana.
The 20-man shortlist includes a host of great goalkeepers, all of whom play across Europe's 'Top 5' leagues. One stands out: Club América and Mexico shot-stopper Luis Malagón.
Malagón, 27, played a pivotal role in helping Las Águilas secure back-to-back titles during the 2023/24 campaign, lifting both the Apertura and Clausura. In addition, he was named the successor to the long-standing legendary Guillermo Ochoa as the new Number One between the sticks for El Trí.
Before joining América in 2023, Malagón started his career with Morelia, rising through their academy but would catch the attention of Necaxa in 2020 where he would go on to grow in stature, earning a move to Mexico's most decorated club.
Malagón faces a difficult task in going a step further to win the honour, with only one man being able to do so whilst playing outside of the 'Old Continent'. Winning it three times (1995, 1997 & 1998), the award was given to Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert who spent those years in the Argentine capital with Vélez Sarsfield.
Can Luis Ángel Malagón become the first-ever Mexican winner of the World's Best Goalkeeper of the Year? Let us know your thoughts!