Argentina footballer Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez has been selected as sport's best goalkeeper, winning the prestigious Yashin Trophy for a second straight year.
Martínez, 32, was awarded the prize at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on Monday.
He was handed the trophy by his international teammate, forward Lautaro Martínez.
"It's an honour to be here again," smiled the Aston Villa goalkeeper as he picked up his award.
The comment was an acknowledgement of the boos he received from French fans on the red carpet just hours before.
France's supporters still who haven't forgiven the goalkeeper for his antics in the penalty shoot-out victory that saw Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
"Thanks also to the 'Toro' [Lautaro] for that goal in the Copa América final," said the Albiceleste hero, referring to the extra-time winner that secured Argentina a 1-0 win over Colombia in July's final in Miami.
"Thanks to Aston Villa, to my coach, to the national team. I always want to improve. I believe that individual success comes from collective success," said Martínez.
"It's an honour to receive this award again. I could never have dreamed of a career like this," he said.
‘Dibu’ is also the first to inscribe his name twice on the trophy, which in recent years was won by Brazil's Alisson Becker (2019), Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma (2021) and Belgium's Thibaut Courtois (2022).
In second place this year was Unai Simón (Athletic Bilbao), a European Championship winner with Spain, and third was Ukraine's Andriy Lunin, who won Champions League and La Liga titles with his club Real Madrid.
The award is named after Lev Yashin, who was capped by the Soviet Union and is considered by many to be the greatest goalkeeper of all time.
He is the only goalkeeper to have been awarded the Ballon d'Or, winning the trophy in 1963.
The Ballon d'or normally goes to attacking players rather than defensive ones.
Rodri takes biggest prize
Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri was awarded the men's Ballon d'Or on Monday after winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title and Euro 2024.
Headlines, however, were made by Real Madrid, whose players boycotted the ceremony.
The decision to award the prize for the world's best player to the midfielder came as a surprise, with Real Madrid's Liga and Champions League double winner Vinícius Júnior tipped by many to win.
Hours before the ceremony in Paris, the Spanish club announced its delegation would not attend the ceremony at Chatelet Theatre because of what it perceived as a snub of Vinícius.
Rodri, 28, played a key role as City held off Arsenal to win the Premier League title last season and was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024 as unfancied Spain emerged triumphant in Germany.
Rodri was diplomatic when addressing the question of Real's no-show in his post-award press conference.
"They have their decision, they didn't want to be here for their reasons," he said. "I just focus on my club and my team-mates."
Despite the French organisers insisting that the identity of the winner was a closely-guarded secret this year, the news appeared to have leaked ahead of the festivities.
Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati earlier won her second successive women's Ballon d'Or, after leading her club to a historic continental quadruple of titles and claiming the Nations League with her country.
Bonmati, 26, joins her Barcelona team-mate Alexia Putellas as the only women to win the Ballon d'Or twice since the award's inauguration in 2018.
"This cannot be achieved alone, I am very lucky to be surrounded by players who make me better every day," Bonmati said.
The Catalans won every trophy available to them last season -- the Spanish league, Cup, Super Cup and a second-successive Women's Champions League.
– TIMES/AFP
