Throughout the history of sport, several goalkeepers have stood out not only for their ability to defend the net, but also for their striking personality and memorable achievements on and off the pitch. In this article, we’ll explore the 20 greatest goalkeepers in history, their achievements, curiosities and legacies!
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Meet the 20 greatest goalkeepers in history
- Lev Yashin
Titles: Champion of the 1960 European Championship, 1956 Olympic Champion, 5-time Soviet Champion.
Team: Dynamo Moscow.
History: the son of laborers, he began his career as an ice hockey player before making a name for himself in soccer. He went 270 games without conceding a goal in his career.
Curiosities: Known as the “Black Spider”, he was the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d’Or in 1963. That’s why he’s among the greatest goalkeepers in history.
- Gordon Banks
Titles: World Champion 1966, 2 times English League Champion.
Team: Stoke City, Leicester City.
History: Also the son of workers, he began playing soccer in amateur clubs before turning professional. He is considered one of the most consistent goalkeepers in history.
Curiosities: he made one of the most famous saves in history against a header from Pelé in the 1970 World Cup.
- Dino Zoff
Titles: 1982 World Champion, 6 times Italian Champion.
Team: Juventus, Napoli.
History: grew up in a modest family and started playing soccer as a youth. He went 1,142 minutes without conceding a goal in the 1982 World Cup.
Curiosities: at the age of 40, he became the oldest goalkeeper to win the World Cup. For this reason, he is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in history
- Peter Schmeichel
Titles: Euro 1992 Champion, 5 times Premier League Champion.
Team: Manchester United.
History: The son of a musician, he started playing soccer in Denmark before moving to English clubs. He was the first goalkeeper to score in the Premier League.
Curiosities: he was known for his intimidating presence and leadership skills on the pitch.
- Iker Casillas
Titles: World Champion 2010, 5 times Spanish Champion.
Team: Real Madrid.
History: He grew up in a working-class family and joined Real Madrid’s youth team. He played over 100 games for the Spanish national team.
Curiosities: he is considered one of the best Spanish goalkeepers of all time, as well as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history.
- Oliver Kahn
Titles: 1990 World Champion, 8 times German Champion.
Team: Bayern Munich.
History: The son of divorced parents, he faced financial difficulties as a child. This didn’t stop him from becoming one of the greatest goalkeepers in history: he played 10 consecutive seasons without conceding more than 25 goals in the Bundesliga.
Curiosities: Known as “The Titan”, he was famous for his strong personality and determination.
- Gianluigi Buffon
Titles: World Champion 2006, 9 times Italian Champion.
Team: Juventus, Parma.
History: grew up in a middle-class family and started playing soccer for local clubs. He played more than 1,100 games as a professional.
Curiosities: he is the goalkeeper with the most games in the history of Italian Serie A.
- Sepp Maier
Titles: 1974 World Champion, 4 times German Champion.
Team: Bayern Munich.
History: He grew up in a small town in Germany and started playing soccer as a youth. He lasted 442 minutes without conceding a goal in the 1974 World Cup.
Curiosities: he was known for his agility and ability to save penalties, qualities worthy of the greatest goalkeepers in history.
- Rinat Dasayev
Titles: Olympic Champion 1988, 8 times Soviet Champion.
Team: Spartak Moscow.
History: the son of a construction worker, he started playing soccer at local clubs. He saved 26 penalties in his career.
Curiosities: he was the first goalkeeper to win the Player of the Year award in the Soviet Union;
- Jorge Campos
Titles: 2 times Mexican Champion.
Team: Pumas UNAM, Cruz Azul.
History: he grew up in a humble family and started playing soccer on the streets of Mexico. He is one of the only goalkeepers to have scored more than 35 goals in his career.
Curiosities: he was known for his exotic outfits and for also playing as a striker.
- Neville Southall
Titles: English League Champion, 2-time FA Cup Winner.
Team: Everton.
History: the son of a miner, he grew up in an industrial town and started playing soccer as a youth. He made over 750 appearances for Everton.
Curiosities: he is considered one of the best British goalkeepers of all time, as well as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history.
- Gylmar dos Santos Neves
Titles: World Champion 1958, 1962, 2-time Brazilian Champion.
Team: Santos, Corinthians.
History: grew up in a middle-class family and started playing soccer for local clubs. Unbeaten for 1,132 minutes in the Brazilian national team shirt.
Curiosities: he was a starter for the legendary Brazilian national team in the country’s golden age of soccer.
- Josef Masopust
Titles: World Champion 1962, 5 times Czechoslovak Champion.
Team: Dukla Prague.
History: He grew up in a working-class family and started playing soccer as a youth. He is considered one of the best players in Czechoslovak history and one of the greatest goalkeepers in history.
Curiosities: he started out as a goalkeeper before becoming one of the best midfielders of his generation.
- Fabien Barthez
Titles: World Champion 1998, European Champion 2000, 2-time Premier League Champion.
Team: Manchester United, Marseille.
History: He grew up in a middle-class family and started playing soccer for local clubs. He played over 800 games as a professional.
Curiosities: he was known for his eccentric personality and aggressive playing style.
- Ray Clemence
Titles: 5 times English League Champion, 3 times UEFA Cup Champion.
Team: Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur.
History: The son of a factory worker, he started playing soccer as a youth. He played more than 1,000 games as a professional.
Curiosities: he is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of English soccer.
- Edwin van der Sar
Titles: Champions League winner 1995, 2008, 4 times Premier League champion.
Team: Manchester United, Ajax.
History: grew up in a middle-class family and started playing soccer for local clubs. He went 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League.
Curiosities: he was instrumental in Ajax and Manchester United winning the Champions League.
- Manuel Neuer
Titles: World Champion 2014, 8 times German Champion.
Team: Schalke 04, Bayern Munich.
History: grew up in a German family and started playing soccer at Schalke 04. He went more than 200 consecutive games without conceding a goal in the Bundesliga.
Curiosities: he introduced the style of play known as “Goalkeeper-Libero”, being skilled with his feet and taking an active part in defensive play.
- Andoni Zubizarreta
Titles: 6 times Spanish Champion, Champion of the Champions League 1992.
Team: Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao.
History: He grew up in a Basque family and started playing soccer at Athletic Bilbao. He has more than 950 professional appearances to his name.
Curiosities: is the player with the most appearances in the history of the Spanish League.
- Marc-André ter Stegen
Titles: 2014 World Champion, 5-time Bundesliga Champion.
Team: Barcelona, Borussia Mönchengladbach.
History: He grew up in a German family and started playing soccer at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He has gone 18 consecutive games without conceding a goal in the Champions League.
Curiosities: known for his skill with his feet and his spectacular saves.
- Petr Cech
Titles: 4 times Premier League Champion, 5 times FA Cup Champion, Champions League Champion, Europa League Champion, among others.
Teams: Chelsea FC, Arsenal FC.
History: Petr Cech began his professional career at Chmel Blsany in the Czech Republic. He later became a legend at Chelsea, winning numerous titles and establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in history. He kept 202 clean sheets in the Premier League
Curiosities: Cech is a talented musician and plays several instruments, including drums and piano.
List of the 20 greatest goalkeepers of all time
- Lev Yashin
- Gordon Banks
- Dino Zoff
- Peter Schmeichel
- Iker Casillas
- Oliver Kahn
- Gianluigi Buffon
- Sepp Maier
- Rinat Dasayev
- Jorge Campos
- Neville Southall
- Gylmar dos Santos Neves
- Josef Masopust
- Fabien Barthez
- Ray Clemence
- Edwin van der Sar
- Andoni Zubizarreta
- Manuel Neuer
- Marc-André ter Stegen
- Petr Cech
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