Legendary Goalkeepers

10 Legendary Goalkeepers In Fifa World Cup History

#1. Lev Yashin (USSR)



World Cups: 4 (1958, 1962, 1966, 1970)
World Cup Wins: none
International Caps: 78 (1954–1970)

Widely regarded as the best goal keeper in the history of world football by IFFHS. “Golden Glove award” is named after him and being considered the greatest goalkeeper of all times without winning the world cup is saying somthing.

Playing under the flag of soviet union, Yashin guided his national side to European Championship glory in 1960, he also played a big role in gold medal victory in Olympic football event. He also won the “European footballer of the year” award as a goalkeeper first time in history.

Yashin stopped 151 penalty kicks in his career and kept 270 cleansheets while playing for both national side and the club side Dynamo Moscow. He started the trend of pushing ball out of danger instead of trying to catch. He also started quick throwballs to start counter attacking football.

#2. Dino Zoff (Italy)

World Cups – (1970, 1974, 1978, 1982)
World Cup Wins – (1982)
Total Italy Caps – 112 (1968 to 1983)

The greatest Italian goalkeeper, yes even better than Gigi Buffon. Zoff played through 60’s to 80’s with Italian national side and big name in Juventus history. He was part of Italy squad in 4 fifa world cups and won the trophy as a captain in 1982. He also won 5 back to back league titles with Juventus.

Zoff has many records to his name the most notable of longest time without conceding a goal in international football which is around (1,142 minutes). Once retired, he started coaching career and managed several clubs in Italy before took on the role as national team coach.

#3. Iker Casillas (Spain)



World Cups: (2002, 2006, 2010)
World Cup Wins: (2010)
International Caps: 153

The greatest shot stoppers in the history of football world ? fair enough ? Iker Casillas has won everything with his national side and club side Real Madrid, since we are talking about international football we stick to his achievements in world cups and European championships. Casillas was part of Spain squad in 2002 world cup, started as the main goal-keeper in 2006 and won his first major trophy with Spain team in 2008 euro championship.

In 2010 he guided Spain to World Cup glory and only conceded two goals in whole tournament keeping 5 clean sheets, he won the golden glove award for his impressive performances in world cup 2010. In Euro 2012 he again guided Spain to championship glory winning three back to back major international tournaments as captain.

He is still going strong and already had more than 150 caps to his name, will probably captain Spain in 2014 world cup in Brazil.

#4. Gylmar dos Santos Neves (Brazil)

World Cups: 3 (1958, 1962, 1966)
World Cup wins: 2 (1958, 1962)
International Caps: 104 (1953–1969)

Gylmar played 104 times for Brazil and only conceded 95 goals in his international career, he was part of three consecutive world cups for Brazil from 1958 to 66 and won the world cup twice. Gylmar is the only goalkeeper in the history to have won back to back world cups which makes his record even more unique.

#5. Sepp Maier (West Germany)

World Cups: 4 (1966, 1970, 1974, 1978)
World Cup wins: 1 (1974)
International Caps: 95 (1966–1979)

Maier was a German legend in every sence, he played around 550 games for Bayern Munich won three back to back European cups in 1970’s. He was part of West Germany squad for 4 consecutive world cups, He hit the peak of his career in 1974 world cup and guided Germany to world cup glory in home soil while a couple of years before he won European Championship with Germany.

#6. Gordon Banks (England)

World Cups: 2 (1966, 1970)
World Cup wins: 1 (1966)
International Caps: 73 (1963–1972)

The greatest English goalkeeper to have graced the game of football. Banks started each and every game of 1966 world leading England to glory for the first time in world cup history. He was also part o 1970 world cup where his performances were great and his save on Pele’s shot became the “greatest save ever”

Gordon often says that people remember me more for the this save than the world cup glory in 1966. Banks played for many clubs in England and notched 558 appearances in his club career.

#7. Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

World Cups: 3 (2002, 2006, 2010)
World Cup wins: 1 (2006)
International Caps: 139 (1997 to date)

Buffon is a legendry footballer from Italy, still going strong at the age of 40, he will captain Italy in 2014 world cup which will be his fourth he has been declared Serie A as the goalkeeper of the year 8 times. He hit the peak of his career in 2006 world cup when only conceded 2 goals and kept 5 cleansheets won the Yashin award (Golden Gloves) for his superb performances.

#8. Fabian Barthez (France)

World Cups: 3 (1998, 2002, 2006)
World Cup wins: 1 (1998)
International Caps: 87 (1994–2007)

Barthez was named best goalkeeper in 1998 world cup where he only conceded two goals in the tournament leading France to World Cup victory at home, he was also the first choice in 2000 Euro Championship. Played in 2002 world cup and 2004 European championships. But his another notable international performance came in 2006 world cup where he guided France to world cup finals only to lose against Italy.

#9. Rinat Dasayev (USSR)




World Cups: 3 (1982, 1986, 1990)
World Cup wins:
International Caps: 91 (1979, 1991)

Another great from the Societ Union, he never won the world cup but played in three consecutive championships. Played a total of 91 times for USSR between 1979 to 1991.

#10. Oliver Kahn (Germany)



World Cups: 3 (1998, 2002, 2006)
World Cup wins:
International Caps: 86 (1994–2006)

Kahn is the only goalkeeper in the history of World to have won “Golden Ball” award which he received in 2002 world cup where German lost against Brazil in the final. Kahn was part of 1998 world cup squad but was not the first choice and also in 2006 where he played as deputy to Jens Lehmann.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCQpO1Hwn74

De Gea training.
No legends became legends without tears and sweat.
To be a goalkeeper, one must be very motivated.
Never give up
NO PAIN, NO GAIN!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpBF6gETKo8

this is one of the thousand drills for beginners.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START.