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Often regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the game, David de Gea is a name respected by almost every football fan in the world as his career has been a string of world-class saves and man-of-the-match performances.
A goalkeeper is rarely considered the most valuable player in a team, but the Spaniard has won the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award a record four times, proving that a shot-stopper's role in the game is equally as important as the rest.
His unorthodox goalkeeping style aided by his outstanding reflexes, agility and his ability to make saves with his feet make him a legend in the history books and remind us all of the immense quality he possesses.
However, even the best have rough days and De Gea is no stranger to a performance decline. His form plummeted as his future at Manchester United became shrouded in uncertainty. The 29-year old did commit his future to the club when he signed a contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until at least June 2023 but considering his recent performances and the rise of Dean Henderson, it is tough to say what lies ahead for the 29-year-old.
Keeping all that in mind, we look at six of De Gea’s most high-profile errors:
#6 Xhaka's long-range effort misjudged
Arsenal 2-0 Manchester United | 10th March 2019 | Premier League
Manchester United fell behind to Arsenal after De Gea failed to save what looked like a straightforward shot early in their Premier League game in March last year. Granit Xhaka unleashed an ambitious 30-yard effort that should have easily been saved by the Spaniard but he misjudged the flight of the ball and could only watch as it whizzed past him.
The ball appeared to swerve in the air but it was still an occasion that most spectators would have expected someone like De Gea to comfortably save. The Gunners took confidence after the early opener and eventually ran out as 2-0 winners.
#5 Rudiger's shot not handled
Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea | 28th April 2019 | Premier League
Days after a torrid performance against Manchester City in April last year, De Gea was once again at the centre of scrutiny with a costly error against Chelsea. Antonio Rudiger's 35-yard shot was the Blues' first effort on target and it should have been a relatively easy save for the United star but he spilt the shot to Marcos Alonso, who made no mistake from close range.
It was an awful mistake from the Red Devils' out-of-form goalkeeper as their London opponents salvaged a point out of the game courtesy of his error. The Manchester giants were the better side throughout the game but were left frustrated at full-time. That result was also crucial because it helped Chelsea gain control of the Champions League berth, meaning United had to miss out on the European competition again.
#3 Ismaïla Sarr's tame effort unsaved
Watford 2-0 Manchester United | 22nd December 2019 | Premier League
De Gea's latest mistake, which came during Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Watford in December last year, was arguably the worst of the lot. The 29-year-old was somehow unable to keep out Ismaïla Sarr's tame effort from inside the box. It would have even been an embarrassing mistake for a Sunday League goalkeeper.
Sarr found space in the box early in the second half and hit a bouncing shot that should have been easy enough to deal with. However, De Gea made a complete and utter mess of it, misjudging the ball and dropping it right in the back of his net for 1-0.
The Hornets soon scored another goal courtesy of Troy Deeney, who converted from the spot to win all three points for them.
#4 Comical error against Sunderland
Manchester United 2-1 Sunderland | 22nd January 2014 | League Cup Semi-Finals
De Gea fumbled an easy save to gift Sunderland a goal in the dying minutes of extra time during their League Cup semi-final clash in January 2014.
Manchester United looked set to progress to a Wembley final on away goals as the final whistle loomed in the second leg at Old Trafford. However, De Gea allowed a tame shot from Phil Bardsley to slip out of his grasp and over the line, allowing Gus Poyet’s men to move ahead on aggregate with one minute of extra-time remaining.
Javier Hernandez responded almost immediately to send the tie to penalties and the Red Devils were ultimately beaten after scoring just one out of five from the spot
#2 A massive error against Messi and Barcelona
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United | 17th April 2019 | UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final
De Gea conceded three goals against Barcelona in the second leg of their quarter-final fixture in the Champions League last season but it was the second goal of the match that was considered a big error that shouldn't have happened in such an important game.
Shortly after Lionel Messi planted one into the top corner earlier in the game, he scored the second goal, a scuffed shot, which the Spanish goalkeeper let slip under his body.
Manchester United started that match brightly and tested Marc-André Ter Stegen many times but after that glaring mistake from De Gea, it was as good as over for the Reds Devils. The goalkeeper apologised to his team-mates after the match in the dressing room and was said to be inconsolable.
#1 A mess-up at the FIFA World Cup
Portugal 3-3 Spain | 15th June 2018 | FIFA World Cup
The biggest error on the biggest stage. Spain and Portugal played each other in their first group match at the FIFA World Cup and it was a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Late in the first half, Cristiano Ronaldo got the ball around the top of the penalty box and fired a shot directly into De Gea's hands, but the Spaniard let the ball slip through his grasp and into the goal. It was a terrible error, fumbling a shot through the gloves and over the line, and especially in a tournament as big as the World Cup.
The match did end in a draw where the other goals were a penalty and an unstoppable free-kick. There was little De Gea could about the other goals but his gifted to Portugal was the reason Spain drew a game that they could have won.
