Gianluigi Donnarumma Ballon d’Or verdict ‘proved’ what Chelsea fans knew about Edouard Mendy – Renuka Odedra


Paris Saint Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Lev Yashin goalkeeping award, which meant Edouard Mendy finished in second place. The winner was picked out by previous winners of the Ballon d’Or.

Speaking to the club website, the Senegalese international said about the runner-up prize, “It is an incredible achievement for me and I am really proud to be in Chelsea and to be part of the club.

“We did an excellent job last year and we continue this year. Hopefully, everything will continue well. See you next year!

“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.”

Donnarumma of course won the European Championship with Italy in 2020. The 22-year-old recorded six clean sheets and conceded the same amount throughout the tournament.

Mendy though was outstanding for Chelsea since he arrived from Stade Rennes in 2020. In 43 Premier League matches he secured 23 clean sheets, conceding 30 goals.

Winning the Champions League trophy with the Blues last season was an amazing achievement that he was a vital part of. The 29-year-old kept nine clean sheets in the 2020/21 campaign which earned him UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season award.



Edouard Mendy was named the second best goalkeeper in world football in 2021
Edouard Mendy was named the second best goalkeeper in world football in 2021

Many Chelsea fans took to social media to express their disappointment and anger at Mendy losing out on the result. This comes after Mendy was snubbed for the main Ballon d’Or trophy.

In many ways, Mendy did something few goalkeepers do, which is stand out and perform at the highest level in their debut season – that too in a new league. Both goalkeepers had outstanding seasons, but some people feel Mendy’s achievements have been disregarded in some ways.

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It’s hard to see how Donnarumma’s achievements last season trumped Mendy’s? Apparently winning the Champions League, Super Cup, being UEFA’s keeper of the season just doesn’t hold that much weight anymore?

Let’s hope he can have just as amazing a season this year with Chelsea and challenge for the Ballon d’Or trophy next season, but this year you could argue the keeper was robbed of an award he rightful deserved.

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