Pep Guardiola Reacts to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s Ballon d’Or Ranking and Yashin Trophy Triumph

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has praised summer signing Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Italian goalkeeper was recognised for his outstanding 2024/25 campaign at Monday night’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.

Donnarumma left Paris Saint-Germain on deadline day in September, joining City in a £26 million deal. PSG’s manager Luis Enrique was reportedly keen on a goalkeeper more comfortable in possession, but that decision has raised eyebrows across Europe.

For while Donnarumma may not be the most naturally gifted with the ball at his feet, he is widely considered one of the finest shot-stoppers in world football. He proved as much last season, playing a decisive role in PSG’s Champions League triumph as part of a historic treble.

On Monday, the 26-year-old capped that success by lifting the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the world’s best goalkeeper, and placing ninth in the overall Ballon d’Or rankings — his highest finish to date.

Gianluigi Donnarumma wins Yashin Trophy

This was Donnarumma’s second Yashin Trophy success, following his first win in 2021. He finished ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Inter Milan veteran Yann Sommer in the 2025 vote.

Donnarumma finished ninth in the overall Ballon d’Or vote, trailing only Cole Palmer (8th), Kylian Mbappe (7th), Achraf Hakimi (6th), Raphinha (5th), Mohamed Salah (4th), Vitinha (3rd), runner-up Lamine Yamal and, ultimately, winner Ousmane Dembele.

His top-10 placing was a significant personal milestone, surpassing the 10th place he managed four years ago.

After his latest victory, Donnarumma was quoted by ManCity.com as saying: “It’s a great honour to win the Yashin Trophy for a second time in my career. It’s a team game but this is a personal award that all goalkeepers want to get their hands on so I’m delighted to have been selected by the panel.

“There are a lot of brilliant goalkeepers around the world, so this is incredibly special to me. I am pleased with my performances over the last year and the trophies I have won, but I know I can still improve and that’s a major reason why I chose to move to Manchester City.

“I am now fully focused on working with Pep Guardiola and his staff to develop my game even further and helping my new team to even more success.”

Pep Guardiola hails City’s new No 1

Guardiola was quick to salute his new goalkeeper’s recognition. “I congratulate him, but of course PSG as well for what he has done in Paris,” Guardiola told reporters on Tuesday. “But yes, the impact has been really great.

“Always I say the same: you finish ninth or sixth or 12th, the fact you are there means you are doing a good season. I have the feeling every season he is there, he’s close, because of the good keeper that he is to the individual awards.”

Donnarumma on adapting to Pep’s style of play

The Italian had already spoken about the challenges of fitting into Guardiola’s possession-heavy system. In a press conference before City’s Champions League clash with Napoli last week, he admitted: “I always try to improve.

“I’m now with this coach who is one of the best in these situations. He can definitely help me a lot. There are moments you can play and moments where it’s better to kick it long and avoid dangerous situations. You have to be good at knowing how to read the situations.”

His humility and willingness to adapt appear to have endeared him to both Guardiola and his new teammates. Erling Haaland has already praised the keeper, crediting him for a match-saving stop on his debut in the Manchester derby.

A bright start in Manchester

Donnarumma has begun life at the Etihad with a string of strong displays. He kept clean sheets in his first two games — a 3-0 win over Manchester United and a 2-0 victory against Napoli — before finally being beaten in the 1-1 draw away at Arsenal.

Guardiola is expected to rest him for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie with Huddersfield, but the Italian will likely return on Saturday when Burnley visit the Etihad.