Former Krasnodar goalkeeper Alexander Filtsov says Matvey Safonov has a genuine chance of winning the Lev Yashin Trophy after being nominated for the award given to the best goalkeeper of 2026.
Safonov’s nomination was welcomed by Filtsov as recognition not only for the goalkeeper himself but also for the wider Russian goalkeeping tradition and the people who have supported his development.
Speaking exclusively to online publication Euro-Futbol.Ru, Filtsov said: “This is pleasing for the entire Russian school of goalkeeping. It is pleasing for those who invested their strength, soul and opportunities in Matvey. It is also pleasing for him personally, because over the past two years he has won a number of important trophies and tournaments. Therefore, everything is logical.”
Safonov is among the contenders for the prize named after Lev Yashin, the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d’Or. The 2026 award will recognise the goalkeeper judged to have produced the strongest performances during the year.
Asked whether Safonov could claim the trophy, Filtsov gave an emphatic response.
“Of course. He is a two-time winner of the UEFA Champions League in consecutive seasons, and he also has a number of cups. I hope that when he wins, there can be no two opinions about it,” he said.
Filtsov’s support is based on Safonov’s record of success over the past two years. In addition to winning the UEFA Champions League twice in a row, Safonov has collected several other cups and important tournament honours, according to his former club colleague.
The nomination places Safonov among the goalkeepers competing for one of football’s leading individual awards in his position. The Lev Yashin Trophy is reserved for the best goalkeeper of the year and is named in honour of the legendary Soviet goalkeeper.
For Filtsov, Safonov’s inclusion is a positive moment for everyone connected with the Russian goalkeeping school. His comments also underline the significance of the work carried out by those who helped Safonov progress and establish himself at the highest level.
The former Krasnodar goalkeeper did not name the other nominees but expressed confidence that Safonov’s achievements make him a credible candidate. Filtsov said the goalkeeper’s recent record provides a clear basis for his nomination and argued that a victory would be fully deserved.
Safonov’s candidacy will now be considered alongside those of the other contenders for the title of the best goalkeeper of 2026. The award’s final result will determine whether he adds the Lev Yashin Trophy to his collection of major trophies and tournament victories.