November 09, (THEWILL) – Edouard Mendy, the Chelsea goalkeeper, has questioned why he was left off the 30-man Ballon d’Or shortlist, claiming that his nationality may have played a role.
Despite being a vital part of Chelsea’s defence line during the Blues’ Champions League and Super Cup victories in 2020/21, the 29-year-old did not get nominated for the award.
After earlier stating that he does not believe his omission by arbiters France Football was an “injustice,” the Senegalese goalkeeper now wonders if his nationality played a role in his exclusion.
“You are all a bit surprised by this absence, that’s something that pleases me,” he said. “It’s something that motivates me and pushes me to work. Honestly, I ask myself the question. If I had played for France and had taken part in the Euros, would we have this debate and this reflection?”
Mendy has been nominated for the Yachine Trophy, which honours the world’s best goalkeeper. He went on to say that winning the prize would not be “a consolation” but that he would be “proud” to win it.
Mendy said in an interview with in October about his Ballon d’Or snub: “Do I think it’s an injustice? No, I wouldn’t use that word.
“It’s something that motivates me to go forward, to work and be performant at club level and with my country, and as I said after the game with the national team, it’s the journalists’ freedom of vote and expression, and they vote honourably and conscientiously.”
Frank Lampard signed Mendy as a relative unknown for Chelsea in 2020, hoping to provide competition for faltering Kepa Arrizabalaga. He has now established himself as one of Europe’s best shot-stoppers, preserving a clean sheet when the Blues won European football’s biggest title against Man City in May.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
