To many fans, ex players and pundits the goalkeeper is the most important player on the pitch. However which goalkeeper is the world's best? In this article I'll give you my top 5.
5. Hugo Lloris
In terms of physical standing, I simply can not imagine a better physique to have as a goalkeeper than the one Hugo Lloris possesses. With a superb reach and some great reflexes, Lloris has all the tools to become one of the best goalkeepers in the world one day.The Lyon and France number 1 has a magnificent future ahead of him having just turned 25 years old. If I was sir Alex Ferguson, I would have bought Lloris rather than David De Gea to replace Edwin van der sar.
4. Joe Hart
Joe Hart's journey to becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the world has been tough and strenuous. Loans at Blackpool, Tranmere and Birmingham city have meant Hart's had to work immensely hard to get noticed. However after the season on loan at Birmingham ended, Mancini decided to give Joe Hart the honor of being Manchester City's first choice goalkeeper, ahead of the experienced Shay Given. Since then Hart has shone and in the process has become the English national team's undisputed number 1.
3.Petr Cech
As a Chelsea fan throughout Petr Cech's career at the club, I've seen him become the player he is today. In his first season, he produced some magnificent performances and while doing so managed to beat Carlo Cuducini to become chelsea's top goalie during Chelsea's title winning 2004/05 premier league campaign. Despite a horrid injury in late 2006 during a game against Reading, Cech has remained one of the world's best goalkeepers and in my opinion, the £7 million Chelsea spent on him to take him from Rennes was one of the best bargains in recent memory.
2. Iker Casillas
To many fans throughout the globe, Casillas is the best goalkeeper in the world. His magnificent performances for both Spain and Real Madrid are nearly always solid and often spectacular. Many will be surprised to know he's only 30, meaning as a goalkeeper he's still got plenty of time left at the top. When he does eventually retire, real Madrid will have a tough job replacing him.
1. Manuel Neuer
When he joined his boyhood club Schalke 04 at the age of 7 all his coaches knew they had an exciting young goalkeeping prospect on their hands. However, Manuel Neuer's career really took off in 2010 where he was one of Germany's star players in the world cup. He then had a magnificent 2010/11 season, with many mind-blowing performances most notably against Manchester united in the semi final of the champions league at Gelsenkirchen. In the summer of 2011, Neuer left Schalke to join Bayern munich for which made him the 2nd most expensive goalkeeper of all time. So far, he's already broken a record for Bayern Munich: the most consecutive clean sheets. To have done all this at just 25 years old already, the future looks extremely bright for the man who I believe is the world's best goalkeeper.
Honorable mentions
Gigi Buffon
Pepe Reina
Julio Cesar
What did you think of my choices? Was I right to put Neuer ahead of Casillas? Did I miss anyone out? Please leave a comment if so. Thanks for reading.
