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Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been the most significant contenders to be named as 'The Greatest' of this generation. The magnificent duo have both been phenomenal players despite having different playing styles.
They may have aged significantly by now, but they are still a massive threat to any opposition when they take to the pitch. It was a natural progression for these talents to assume penalty-taking duties for their teams as well. In his illustrious career, Ronaldo has converted 143 penalties out of the 172 taken. Messi has converted 103 off the 133 taken in his career.
Some goalkeepers have done the unthinkable by saving penalties from both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
Saving a penalty is tough for any goalkeeper, irrespective of the taker. The job becomes significantly more difficult when Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the takers.
But the following five names have, in fact, saved penalty kicks from both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. These five have achieved a unique and incredible achievement against two of the greatest ever footballers.
#5 Gorka Iraizoz - 2 penalties
La Liga, over the years, has seen several good goalkeepers come through their clubs' academies. This becomes possible due to the policy some clubs like Athletic Bilbao follow in playing with players only from the Basque region. It's at the same club where goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made his name.
The Spanish shot-stopper has been a solid option between the sticks for many years, and his performances for Bilbao have often earned him a lot of praise from the fans. However, he has had several matchups with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi over the years and sometimes outdid the greats.
The custodian saved a penalty from Ronaldo in a 2011-12 La Liga match, while he saved one from Messi in a 2015-16 La Liga game. Iraizoz's performances never materialized too much into silverware, but his trophy cabinet is not empty. He spent his early years at Espanyol for a brief period where he won the Copa del Rey and was close to winning the UEFA Cup but fell short in the final.
#4 Diego Lopez - 2 penalties
Diego Lopez has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in La Liga over the last decade. While he is not amongst the best goalkeepers in football, Lopez has been a safe pair of hands. He even spent time with Cristiano Ronaldo during his second stint with Los Blancos.
Over the years, Lopez has played for several prominent clubs like Real Madrid, AC Milan, Sevilla, and Villarreal, where he's currently at. His second stint at Real Madrid was quite controversial as he was preferred over club legend Iker Casillas, which often put Lopez in trouble with the fans.
Lopez saved a penalty from Lionel Messi for the first time in a 2007-08 Copa del Rey match for Villarreal. He incredibly repeated the feat in the same competition ten years later, this time in Espanyol colors.
Lopez won a couple of significant trophies, including the highly coveted Champions League in 2013-14. He is still an active player despite being 40 years of age and is one of the few keepers who have saved spot-kicks from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
#3 Fernando Pacheco - 2 penalties
Few will remember Fernando Pacheco as the name who saved spot-kicks from both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Like Diego Lopez, he also started at Real Madrid and occasionally shared a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo. But with the likes of Iker Casillas among the ranks, Pacheco sought his future elsewhere and joined Alaves.
Pacheco has been a regular for the club and has been the leading man for his team when it comes to keeping opponents at bay.
He saved one penalty each from Cristiano Ronaldo (2016-17 La Liga) and Lionel Messi (2017-18 La Liga). While his performances have been disciplined and consistent, Pacheco is yet to add a trophy to his name since the Club World Cup, which he won during his stint with Real Madrid.
#2 Thibaut Courtois - 2 penalties
Arguably the biggest name on this list, Thibaut Courtois has been an absolute superstar in world football. He has played at some of the biggest clubs in the world and is currently the Real Madrid custodian.
Courtois' duels with Lionel Messi are iconic and he has incredibly saved the Argentine's spot-kicks twice in his career. The first came in a 2013-14 Supercopa de Espana game in Atletico Madrid colors. The next will be very fresh in the memory of the Madridistas since it happened as recently as 16 February in the Champions League Round of 16 game against Paris Saint-Germain.
Today, Courtois is one of the best keepers in the game and uses his tall frame to churn out impossible saves. There has been no shortage of silverware for him as he has won both the La Liga and the Premier League. However, the Champions League trophy has eluded him, and he will indeed aim to win it this season with Real Madrid.
#1 Diego Alves - 4 penalties
Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Alves is a La Liga veteran, having spent over a decade in Spain. He started there with Almeria but his best years were for Valencia, for whom Alves was one of the most consistent and steady shot-stoppers in the league.
Alves was proficient in generally saving penalties, but those taken by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are never ordinary spot-kicks. Nevertheless, Alves has managed to save a combined four penalties from the two modern greats over the years.
In an unimaginable showing of supreme spot-kick saves, Alves has saved three of Ronaldo's penalties till date. These events occurred in the 2009-10, 2014-15 and the 2016-17 versions of La Liga. Alves saved one from Messi in the 2011-12 Copa del Rey.
Unfortunately, Alves' consistent performances for Valencia never materialized into a trophy. All his club honors have come in the Brasileiro Serie A, which he won with Flamengo. He has also been able to win the Copa Libertadores, which is the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League.
