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The Top Five Goalkeepers in the World – 2011 Edition

A new year brings with it new lists. Like last year, we’re counting down the top soccer players in the world in each position, begining with the guys who keep (or try to) the nets empty – The top five goalkeepers in the world according to us in the beginning of 2011.

For our Other Best of in 2011 – Best Centre Backs Best Full Backs Best Midfielders Best Supporting Strikers/Wingers Strikers

Number 5 – Victor Valdes, Barcelona and Spain

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It’s not easy being a Barcelona keeper. There’s so much focus on the amazing attack the team usually has and especially during the Pep era and the Rijkaard era, the goalkeeper gets forgotten. And when he does concede a goal, they’ll always say – ‘Barcelona never have a good one at goal’. That’s where people, some, are wrong about Valdes. It took him some time to become a world class goalkeeper, but he has been for the past 2-3 years. Last season and this one as well I think he’s playing better than Casillas. Yes, he has the best Centre Back duo in the lands ahead of him, but that doesn’t prevent him from being good or better almost any given day. Barcelona hardly rely on their keeper to win them points, but Valdes does pretty much everything else. Being the most succesful (title-wise) keeper in Barcelona history helps as well.

Number 4 – Petr Cech, Chelsea and Czech Republic

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This isn’t the pre-Stephen Hunt Cech, but not from far it. After a rough year or two, this season Cech seems, most of the time, back on top of his game. Chelsea haven’t been looking like a top club for the last two months, but that’s mostly due to the Owner tinkering, injuries and a mental collapse after an amazing start. Still, hardly any of this can be blamed on Cech who looks like the confident, intimidating keeper he was during his better years. Now all he needs is for his team to get back on track.

Number 3 – Hugo Lloris, Lyon and France

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The winner of the ‘Ligue 1 keeper of the year’ for the last two seasons, despite that awful mistake against South Africa in the World Cup, is turning into one of the best porteros Europe. He still hasn’t won a title with Lyon, but is usually at his best every game, League and in the Champions League. National Team? Captaining the side in their last match against England says it all. Lloris is turning from ‘just a brilliant shot stopper’ into a true leader in the back. France have a great one on the goal line for the decade ahead. I wonder if Lyon will be able to hold on to him for just a little more. There are plenty of teams (United, Arsenal, Bayern to name a few) dying for a young and quality keeper.

Number 2 – Julio Cesar, Inter and Brazil

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Is Cesar’s injury the reason Inter looks so bad on defense this season? It’s one of them, although the bigger reason has to hating Benitez after the Mourinho years and the eventual fall after a perfect year. Cesar has played only 9 league games for Inter this season but has already kept 4 clean sheets and a return to the form he has kept during the recent championship years is key for Inter’s charge at a Champions League spot in 2011.

Number 1 – Iker Casillas, Real Madrid and Spain

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After this summer Casillas truly has it all. Iker Casillas didn’t have the best 2009-2010 season, I thought Valdes had a better year. Still, Casillas showed his worth during the World Cup and especially in the final, stopping the Dutch and Robben every time. Real, unlike Barcelona, allow their keeper more chances to prove his worth, and Casillas is once again brilliant and close to perfect nearly every game. And if having every title in the world isn’t enough, he goes to bed with this one next to him every night.

Peter Fisher

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25 responses to “The Top Five Goalkeepers in the World – 2011 Edition”

  1. […] meatumee wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptAnd when he does concede a goal, they’ll always say – ‘Barcelona never have a good one at goal’. That’s where people, some, are wrong about Valdes. It took him some time to become a world class goalkeeper, but he has been for the past 2-3 years. Last season and this one as well I think he’s playing better than Casillas. Yes, he has the best Centre Back duo in the lands ahead of him, but that doesn’t prevent him from being good or better … Sport’s babes of the week … […]

    Reply

    • About Buffon – He hasn’t played since the World Cup so he can’t be on this list. Vad der Saar? I don’t think he deserved to be a top 5 keeper anymore. He was last year, but there’s been quite a dip in his form this year.

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  14. manuel neuer is the best keeper at the moment, in he will be the best keeper ever in a few years.

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  15. Shows what Gerakis knows!!! Van der Saar just had the season of his life and is indisputadly the best keeper in the world this year.

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  16. ok lets be real, cuz some of yours comments are really rubbish, van der sar doesnt deserve to be top 5 cuz its his last year???? are you crazy so what if its his last year, he played games, he didnts sit on bench so that means it counts you retardet imbecil (gerakis100).. my rank
    1. edwin van der sar – manchester united (by far the best in 10/11 season)
    2. iker casillas – real madrid (puts stability in real which is crutial)
    3. petr cech – chelsea (thanks to him chelsea will play in CL next season)
    4. samir handanovic – udinese (he and attacker di natalle brought udinese to CL, plus he saved 6 penalty shoots this season only)
    5. gianluigi buffon – juventus (had some trubles with injuries, but is still an excellant gk)

    i can only lauhg when i see lloris no.3 and valdes no.5 why didnt bayern or man utd or arsenal even, bought lloris if he is so good?? put valdes in man utd and they wouldnt be top half in EPL this season (4 years ago nobody thought valdes is nowhere nere top 10 now that barca is good he is suddenly top 5??). its really not that hard to be gk for barca, this season jm pinto played some matches and i thing he is better than valdes.

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    • @vm7 One point about Lloris – I think it’s his price tag and Lyon mounting trouble of letting him go that’s keeping him from playing in a richer club.

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  17. and to the people who say m. neuer will be the best gk ever in few years, he will not be the best keeper ever, why? motivation is his problem, he can motivate himself for big matches, but when he playes against bad teams he is only an average gk in bundesliga, which is not that good of a league to begin with. ps: m. neuer is the best young gk, maybe, but far from best gk at the moment.. omg some of you are relly funny with your comments..who thinks neuer is the best is certainly fan of schalke or bayern m. or only watches bundesliga in that case i feel sory for you cuz its boaring league with bad teams, except for borrusia d. which i hope is back to its far forgotten glory..

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  18. @Peter i agree, but i think we both agree that he is not worth that kind of money, his value is about 17-18 mio € but he is supposed to sell for 23-25, i would pay that kind of money only for casillas and nobody else, van der sar if he was 10-15 years younger..

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    • @vm7 Yeah, he is overpriced, but I don’t think he’s suffering too much in Lyon – Champions League, captain of the French national team. If he was English his value would probably be around 30-35 million pounds. If Jordan Henderson goes for 18-20…

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    • @vm7 Just imagine if he was English… his price tag would be around 30-35 million pounds…

      Reply

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