The 5 best goalkeeping performances of the World Cup

Robin van Persie’s majestic header, Tim Cahill’s wonder volley and James Rodriguez’s brilliant technical strike. The 2014 World Cup has been a goalfest. 

We saw 136 total goals in the Group Stage, almost three per game. Halfway through the Round of 16, there had already been as many goals scored in this tournament as there were in all of 2010. We’ve never seen a better crop of outfield talent at a World Cup. That means lots of goals and gorgeous ones at that.

Despite all of the goals being scored, several goalkeepers have also been terrific.

It makes sense. With so many top class players featuring in Brazil, the keepers needed to step up their game. A number of them did, and before the quarterfinals begin, we pay homage to to the best of the best.

Honorable mentions: Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria), Alexander Domínguez (Ecuador), Rais M’Bohli (Algeria)

5) Manuel Neuer (Germany) vs. Algeria

Like the kid on your house league team who hated playing goal, Manuel Neuer can’t stand still. That’s a good thing for Germany considering their backline isn’t blessed with tremendous footspeed. 

Neuer’s performance against Algeria in the round of 16 was special for the tackles he made, rescuing Per Mertesacker, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Howedes and Shkodran Mustafi on multiple occasions. Neuer sprinting out of goal was the highlight of the game before Germany broke through for two goals in the extra time.

It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a prototypical sweeper in goal. What a treat to watch.

*****

4) Diego Benaglio (Switzerland) vs. Argentina

Roger Federer could hardly watch. 

Lionel Messi and company laid siege to Diego Benaglio’s goal during Argentina’s round of 16 clash versus Switzerland. The 30-year-old Wolfsburg keeper was up to the task, foiling repeated Argentine attacks with a series of acrobatic saves.

Eventually Switzerland’s defense capitulated, allowing Lionel Messi far too much space. The Barcelona star setup Angel Di Maria for the game winner, but Benaglio had one more moment in the sun. With time running out the Swiss keeper charged forward and attempted an audacious bicycle kick in search of an equalizer. It didn’t go in, but the effort matched what he accomplished in goal. 

*****

3) Keylor Navas (Costa Rica) vs. Greece

Costa Rica was on the cusp of another stunning result, this time against Greece in the round of 16. Bryan Ruiz’s goal in the 52nd minute put El Ticos on the cusp of history but things went pear shaped quickly. 

Oscar Duarte picked up his second yellow card in the 66th minute and the Greek onslaught began. Keylor Navas managed to keep his side in the lead. Eventually Greece would find an equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time, and with the Costa Ricans down to 10 men the worst was assumed.

Navas wouldn’t have it. He was superb when called upon in extra time and produced one of the saves of the tournaments in the penalty shootout foiling Theofanis Gekas to help Costa Rica reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time.

*****

2) Guillermo Ochoa (Mexico) vs. Everyone

His name conjured hyperbolic words like ‘genius’ and ‘insane’ at this World Cup and rightfully so. Guillermo Ochoa, the Mexican goalkeeper without a club heading into Brazil, made sure his name would be linked with every European giant looking for a new shot stopper.

Ochoa’s performance against Brazil in the group stage will go down as one of the best in World Cup history. Not many players can make Neymar look to the gods in disbelief but that’s what Ochoa did.

There wasn’t a drop off against the Netherlands, where Ochoa won man of the match honors in a losing performance. Liverpool and Atletico Madrid are two of the teams now interested in the 28-year-old’s services.

*****

1) Tim Howard (USA) vs. Belgium

The 35-year-old with 103 international caps saved his best performance for last, making 16 saves against Belgium. Words, at least not these ones, cannot do what Howard did in Salvador on Tuesday night justice. Belgium had no issues slicing through a porous U.S. defense, but Howard was there to cover them.

We’ll probably never see a performance like that again, and it’s a fitting way for the most decorated American goalie in of all-time to make his World Cup exit. 

This is one meme we can get behind.