World Cup: Top 5 Golden Glove winners

Oliver Kahn (Germany, 2002)

FUSSBALL: WM 2002 in JAPAN und KOREA, HALBFINALE GER - KOR

One of only two goalkeepers to have won the Golden Glove without actually winning the competition, Bayern Munich shot-stopper Oliver Kahn was at what was his peak for the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea.

He cut an imposing figure in the Germany goal, ruthlessly decisive and with terrific leadership capabilities. Of course, he was also a very fine shot-stopper too.

Such were his qualities, he was actually voted the tournament’s best player overall prior to the final. He is the only goalkeeper ever to have done so.

Germany’s performance overall in the competition was unremarkable, but the goalkeeper’s prowess allowed them to make their way to the final, having conceded only a single goal throughout the tournament.

In the showpiece, however, he made an uncharacteristic error to allow Ronaldo to score. Midway through the second half, he spilled a routine effort from Rivaldo, allowing the prolific attacker to steam in and open the scoring.

Kahn was playing the match with torn ligaments in a finger, which may have had an impact on his ability to field the initial shot, yet he refused to blame the issue for his error.

His tournament summed up the fortunes of a goalkeeper; he was for so long perfect, yet one lapse of concentration proved fatal to his side. Despite that slip, his performance remains one of the benchmarks for custodians at a finals tournament.

“There is no consolation [...] it was the only mistake I made in seven games and it was brutally punished,” he lamented after the final.