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Victor Valdes
This one is a no-brainer. There is a section of fans that believe that he is better with his legs than his arms – such is his prowess with the ball at his feet.
Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona played the most extreme version of tiki-taka and the root of that system was the current Manchester United goalkeeper. For such a system to work efficiently, the goalkeeper had to be good with the ball at his feet and Valdes perfectly fulfilled the requirement.
The only time the Spaniard was seen using his arms to touch the ball was when a shot was fired at him. Otherwise, he almost always fondled the ball with his feet – so much that he fell in trouble many a times, becoming the subject of criticism and jokes of many.
One can almost guarantee that Victor Valdes will succeed if played in midfield.
Rustu Recber
Perhaps the craziest goalkeeper of modern times – the true definition of a sweeper-keeper. This was a man who wasn’t afraid to run down to the half-way line in order to clear the ball or challenge the forward to wrestle with it.
This overzealous and highly brave attitude won the hearts of many fans. Not many will know his name, but one look at the videos depicting his fearlessness and the viewer will instantly fall in love with him.
The former Turkey international once injured Kieran Dyer of England. How? Well, he ran to the halfway line to clear a long ball and managed to kick Dyer in the head instead.
Manuel Neuer
Gus Fring, in the season 4 finale of Breaking Bad, told Tio Salamanca that “what kind of man talks to the DEA? No man, no man at all.” Similarly, a list like this without the name of Manuel Neuer is no list at all.
The German is an internet sensation not for his near unreal saves, but for his ability with the ball at his feet. He can do things that not even many outfield players can do. He is so sure of his ability with the ball at his feet that he isn’t afraid to dribble in the opposition’s box.
After a long time, in the last edition of the Ballon d’Or, a goalkeeper found his way to the top 3. It was Manuel Neuer. Even if he wasn’t a goalkeeper, but an outfield player, he would still probably make it to the top 3 for the Ballon d’Or.
