Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, has been nominated as one of 22 goalkeepers who could be selected for the FIFA best XI.
The 33-year old Gqeberha native has been consistently performing for both club and country. In 2024 he was ranked as the ninth best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards. The most recent nomination is for performances between 11 August 2024 to 2 August 2025.
Players from super clubs such Real Madrid, Manchester City and Bayern Munich have all been nominated. This places Williams in elite company. Apart from a junior stint with Tottenham Hotspurs, Williams has plied his trade on home soil. He started his senio career with Supersport United, where he spent 12 years before moving to Sundowns in 2022.
He made his debut for South africa in 2014 and in 2021 was handed the captain’s armband.
Nominees:
Alisson Becker (Brazil and Liverpool)
Yassine Bounou (Morocco and Al Hilal)
Diogo Costa (Portugal and Porto)
Thibaut Courtois (Belgium and Real Madrid)
Michele Di Gregorio (Italy and Juventus)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy and Paris Saint-Germain, now Manchester City)
Fabio (Brazil and Fluminense)
John Victor (Brazil and Botafogo, now Nottingham Forest)
Emiliano Martinez (Argentina and Aston Villa)
Edouard Mendy (Senegal and Al-Ahli)
Alex Meret (Italy and Napoli)
Kevin Mier (Colombia and Cruz Azul)
Manuel Neuer (Germany and Bayern Munich)
Jan Oblak (Slovenia and Atletico Madrid)
David Raya (Spain and Arsenal)
Robert Sanchez (Spain and Chelsea)
Unai Simon (Spain and Athletic Club)
Yann Sommer (Switzerland and Inter Milan)
Mile Svilar (Belgium and Roma)
Wojciech Szczesny (Poland and Barcelona)
Weverton (Brazil and Palmeiras)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns)
