SA fans outraged after Bafana skipper Ronwen Williams is ninth at Ballon d'Or

There was both pride and a sense of having been hard done by among South African football fans after Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams was deemed the ninth-best goalkeeper at the Ballon d'Or awards in Paris on Monday.

Williams, who has had a remarkable season as Mamelodi Sundowns’ goalkeeper, stood among the world's elite as a Yashin Trophy nominee - an honour for the globe's best shot-stoppers.

It was an unprecedented moment for South African football, with Williams being the only African nominated in his category and the first African goalkeeper to be considered while playing for a club on the continent.

As Williams took his place among titans like Portugal’s Diogo Costa, Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Argentina's Emiliano Martinez, South African fans rallied behind him, convinced he deserved the coveted trophy.

READ | Rodri wins men's Ballon d'Or as Real Madrid boycott: 'In his position, the best,' says Pep

They pointed to his impressive stats, which included a record-breaking 30 clean sheets for Sundowns and a heroic penalty performance that secured Bafana Bafana's best Africa Cup of Nations finish in 24 years.

His African fans saw him as not only a symbol of the continent's pride but also as an embodiment of elite goalkeeping talent.

Martinez, however, claimed the award for the second consecutive year, sparking debate.

For some, Martinez's back-to-back win felt questionable given his mixed season; they argued Williams' stats and influential role in African and domestic football deserved greater recognition.

Fans took to social media, calling Williams a "true African star" and "world-class talent" who had been overlooked, despite his significant contributions to both club and country.

The panel ranked Williams