The history of sports has given the world many outstanding masters of the art of goalkeeper. Some of them ended their careers, while others continue to demonstrate their skills to this day.
Football goalkeepers
In the vast majority of cases, the word "goalkeeper" is associated with football. The best goalkeeper in the history of this sport is Lev Yashin (USSR). This is a real legend of Soviet football. Yashin is a European and Olympic champion. Outside the Soviet Union, he received the nickname "Black Spider" - for a black uniform and long arms, with which he seemed to be able to block all the paths of the ball.
England has its own opinion about the best goalkeeper in the world of all time. Locals consider Gordon Banks, the 1966 world champion, as such. A noteworthy fact: at 34, Banks got into a car accident, as a result of which he lost his right eye. Despite this, at 40, the goalkeeper returned to football.
Among the outstanding football goalkeepers of the past, it is worth noting the Italian Dino Zoff (world champion) and the German Sepp Mayer (world and European champion).
The most titled among the current goalkeepers is the Spaniard Iker Casillas. Together with his national team, he won the World Championship and twice the European Championship. Italian Gianluigi Buffon also bears the title of world champion. In the 2000s, these two footballers are considered the best in their roles.
The highest level of play is shown by Petr Cech (Czech Republic). Together with his club - London Chelsea - he won the UEFA Champions League. A distinctive feature of Cech, in addition to his talent, is a special protective helmet, in which he plays after receiving a severe head injury.
World experts also include Manuel Neuer from Germany in the rating of the best goalkeepers. As part of Bayern Munich, he became the winner of the Champions League. Neuer is quite young, so he still has a chance to win trophies with the German team.
Hockey goalkeepers
In hockey, as well as in football, the best goalkeeper of all time is the Soviet athlete - Vladislav Tretyak. He is a three-time Olympic champion, Olympic silver medalist and ten-time world champion. The International Ice Hockey Federation recognized Tretiak as the best hockey player of the twentieth century.
Another legend of the hockey goalkeeper workshop is the Canadian Jacques Plant, who won the Stanley Cup 6 times. This goalkeeper is remembered for the fact that he was the first to practice exits from the goal in order to help his defenders.
Plant's compatriots Patrick Roy and Martin Broder, who won the Stanley Cup 4 and 3 times, respectively, left their mark on history. On a par with them is the Czech Dominik Hasek, who earned the nickname "Dominator".
