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Goalkeepers simply don't get enough credit. The role of a goalkeeper isn't as glitzy or glamorous as that of a striker, but it is certainly as important, if not more.
As the saying goes, attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles. Taking up the central spot in the defensive line, goalkeepers certainly carry a lot of expectations and responsibilities on their shoulders. A fair share of games have been decided largely on the performances of goalkeepers alone.
On that note, let's take a look at the top five goalkeepers since the turn of the century.
#5 Dida (AC Milan, Brazil)
Dida represented AC Milan and the Brazilian national team for over ten years.
Considered one of the best Brazilian goalkeepers in history, Dida has a massive list of awards and trophies to his name. One of the finest of his generation, Dida was famed for his penalty-kick saving ability.
With AC Milan, Dida also boast a vast array of medals. He won the Coppa Italia in 2003 and the Scudetto in 2004. Moreover, Dida won the prestigious UEFA Champions League twice with the Rossoneri, doing so in 2003 and 2007. He even saved three penalties in the final in 2003 against Milan's Serie A rivals Juventus to help the Rossoneri win the competition.
Dida also excelled for Brazil, winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Having played with some of the best players in football history, Dida also has the unique record of being the first-ever Brazilian goalkeeper to be nominated for the prestigious Ballon d'Or award.
#4 Petr Cech (Chelsea, Arsenal, Czech Republic)
Petr Cech was a phenomenal goalkeeper during his playing days.
Cech played with Chelsea for 11 years before moving to Arsenal, where he spent four years before his retirement. Arguably the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history, Cech still boasts several records that are yet to be matched to this day.
Signed in 2004 from Rennes, Cech took the Premier League by storm. He was the central point of Chelsea's defensive metamorphosis under Jose Mourinho during the 2004-05 season. The Blues won the Premier League title that season while breaking numerous other defensive records in the process, thanks to the exploits of Cech.
The Chelsea side of 2004-05 conceded only 15 goals all season, an absolutely mind-blowing feat.
Cech kept a massive 24 clean sheets and won the Golden Glove award, a record that still stands to this day. He was an influential part of Chelsea's UEFA Champions League success as well. He saved a penalty during extra time and two in the penalty shootout in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, helping Chelsea win their first title in the competition.
Petr Cech will certainly go down as one of the best goalkeepers in football history.
#3 Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy)
Gianluigi Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers in the history of the game.
Boasting a career spread across 26 years and counting, Buffon has represented Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. The most remarkable period of his career was the time he spent at Juventus, a total of 19 years across two stints.
During his first 17 years with the Turin outfit, Buffon won almost every title on offer, except the UEFA Champions League. Widely regarded as the best goalkeeper in Serie A history, Buffon still holds the record for the longest-ever run in Serie A, without conceding a goal.
In the 2015-16 season, Buffon went a mammoth 974 consecutive minutes without conceding, creating a record in Serie A. He also holds the record for most clean sheets and appearances for any Italian club, as well as with the Italian national team, which is a glowing testament to his longevity.
Gianluigi Buffon also won the FIFA World Cup with Italy in 2006, adding yet another prestigious award to his already trophy-laden cabinet. Buffon also won ten Serie A titles as well as one Ligue 1 honour (with PSG).
#2 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)
Manuel Neuer has been an ever-present figure in the German football scene.
A regular for over ten years now, Neuer is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers to have played the game. Signed by Bayern Munich in 2011, Neuer hit the ground running almost immediately.
Known for his sweeping ability and impressive reading of the game, Neuer is widely admired for redefining the role of a goalkeeper. While he was known for being conservative, Neuer made his name by venturing further up the pitch, essentially leaving his team with 11 outfield players.
During his decade-long stint with Bayern Munich, Neuer has won 10 Bundesliga titles. One of the most successful players in German football history, Neuer has also won five DFB Pokal trophies and as many Super Cups. Neuer has also won the UEFA Champions League twice with Bayern Munich, doing so in 2013 and 2020 as part of continental trebles.
Neuer cemented his place as one of the best goalkeepers in the game's history after winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Germany.
Also taking home the Golden Glove award in that competition, Manuel Neuer has shone on the world stage. Although it is very difficult to name out one goalkeeper as the best ever, Neuer certainly has a legitimate claim to the title.
#1 Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain)
Iker Casillas is arguably the best goalkeeper of the 21st century.
Boasting a career spanning over 20 years, Casillas is best known for his exploits with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. Renowned for his quick reactions and brilliant shot-stopping ability, Casillas was truly immense for both club and country.
Casillas spent 16 long years with Real Madrid, winning every trophy he ever competed in. He won the La Liga five times and also won the Copa del Rey twice. Casillas also has three UEFA Champions League medals to his name with Los Blancos, starting in all three finals.
The fact that there was a 15-year period between his first and last wins in the continental competition makes Casillas' achievement ridiculously impressive.
His achievements with the Spanish national team have been no less. Casillas won the 2008 Euro, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 UEFA Euro trophies, making it three major international titles in a span of just four years.
Casillas was La Roja's mainstay in goal in all three tournaments and won the Golden Glove award at the 2010 World Cup. Two years later, Spain became first team in European Championship history to successfully defend their title.
While it is indeed very tough to identify the outright best goalkeeper of all time, the 21st century has seen some of the best custodians in the history of the game.
