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The role of a goalkeeper in the game of football is quite underrated. The player between the sticks can make a massive difference and history has proven that.
The likes of Oliver Kahn, Edwin van der Sar, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Iker Casillas and many others have shown how a goalkeeper can help in a team's success. Even today, the most successful of teams have some of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Goalkeepers tend to get better with age
As we have seen with most goalkeepers, over time, their understanding of the game only gets better. They can predict it better and impose their authority strongly as they have more experience under their belt.
Some of the best goalkeepers in the game right now are above the age of 30 and even now, they look strong and fit for years to come. On that note, let's take a look at the best goalkeepers above the age of 30 in world football right now:
Honorable Mention : Hugo Lloris
#5 Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan) - 37 years old
Arguably one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Samir Handanovic has been a phenomenal servant for Inter Milan. The Slovenian goalkeeper has notched up 340 Serie A appearances for the Nerazzurri.
The 37-year old has a commanding presence inside the box and has been a key player between the sticks. His smart reflexes and acrobatic saves have come to Inter's rescue more often than not. He played a vital role in helping them win the Serie A in the 2020-21 season.
The former Udinese goalkeeper was named Slovenian Footballer of the Year in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Handanovic currently holds the record for making the highest number of penalty saves in Serie A with 26 saves. He surely has a legendary status with the Italian club.
#4 Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City) - 34 years old
Kasper Schmeichel is a well-known figure in the Premier League right now courtesy of some consistent performances over the years. Son of the great Peter Schmeichel, he has truly made his father proud, doing amazingly well at the highest level.
With Leicester City, the Danish goalkeeper has been a very important player. Kasper Schmeichel has been very smart with his positioning and has good catching abilities. His authority inside the box has been the key to helping the Foxes maintain discipline at the back.
Because of his superb performances over the years, he has been named Danish Footballer of the Year in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Kasper Schmeichel was instrumental in helping Leicester City win the Premier League in the 2015-16 season and the FA Cup in the 2020-21 season. The 34-year old is surely one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League right now. His contributions for the Denmark national team have also been quite exemplary in recent times.
#3 Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain) - 34 years old
The Costa Rican goalkeeper is currently with Paris Saint-Germain and although he's not a regular starter these days, he remains a vital player for the French club. Keylor Navas had a memorable time with Real Madrid before moving to Paris.
He's not the tallest of goalkeepers but he makes up for it by using his quick pace and sharp reflexes. His agility and energy between the sticks help him make some acrobatic saves and. Although he may have lacked consistency at times, Navas is quite a reliable goalkeeper on the whole.
With Real Madrid, the former Levante goalkeeper won the UEFA Champions League three times in a row. He's considered one of the best footballers ever in the history of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).
#2 David de Gea (Manchester United) - 30 years old
The Spanish goalkeeper has been a very loyal and passionate servant to Manchester United. Coming through the ranks at Atletico Madrid, David de Gea signed for the Red Devils in 2011 to play under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The shot-stopper has since gone on to make 349 appearances in the Premier League. De Gea has amazing reflexes and his shot-stopping abilities both with his hands and feet have been absolutely outstanding. While Manchester United have struggled post Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, De Gea's performances have been the only constant.
The former Atletico man struggled a bit last season but has bounced back in style this term. He remains a big player for Manchester United and it is superb how he has remained so loyal to the club despite continuous interest from Real Madrid in the past.
#1 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) - 35 years old
The concept of sweeper-keeper was first introduced by Manuel Neuer. The German goalkeeper has simply been brilliant between the sticks for both Bayern Munich and Germany.
The 35-year-old has been one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the game. His amazing skill to rush off goal and help out his defense has been one of the highlights of his game-style. This has helped his teammates to have a high defensive line without the fear of being caught off the shoulder.
Neuer has had a lot of success in his career and no one can argue that it is not deserved. He has won the UEFA Champions League twice and has been named the Best European Goalkeeper five times in his career.
