It's just the way things work that the striker gets all the credit. Although scoring goals is the most talked about aspect of football, defending against them is just as crucial. The guy in goal who stands there for an hour and a half as balls are thrown at him and still manages to keep his team in the game is the backbone of any trophy-winning team.
Here is a look at the seven greatest goalkeepers in World Cup history, who have held one of the most important positions on the field and been crucial to the success of their respective countries.
1. Gianluigi Buffon
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No serious consideration of this list could exclude Gianluigi Buffon. The giant Italian has had a fantastic career both for club and country, and he is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time. Buffon has an unbelievable 176 caps for Italy and has played in four of the five World Cups he has been called upon to play in. He captained the team in Brazil in 2014.
2. Iker Casillas
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The country's 2010 World Cup victory came in between its two European Championship victories. Even though Spain lost their opening game to Switzerland by 1-0, they went on to win their first World Cup thanks to five shutouts from Casillas.
3. Tim Howard
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You could make the case that Tim Howard has turned in the best goaltending performance ever seen on the biggest stage in football, even if he isn't one of the best keepers in history. Throughout the World Cup's history, there have been many great saves. However, in 2014, American goalkeeper Tim Howard delivered a memorable performance by making a tournament record of 15 saves against Belgium.
4. Manuel Neuer
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Few goalkeepers in the past decade have been as exciting or inventive as Manuel Neuer. He has won a World Cup with Bayern Munich and has racked up a slew of club honors. Since making his debut in 2009, the German has been a key member of Die Mannschaft. However, his greatest accomplishment came in the summer of 2014, when he played every minute of Germany's World Cup-winning campaign and helped them to four clean sheets.
5. Guillermo Ochoa
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He is a brilliant goalkeeper who has gained worldwide fame due to his luscious locks, cat-like speed and agility, and hyperactive style of goalkeeping. In particular, Ochoa will be remembered favorably after his performances at the 2014 World Cup.
6. Thibaut Courtois
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His team hasn't won anything on the international stage, but he can be proud of how he played in the 2018 World Cup. Even though Belgium were eliminated in the semifinals by eventual champions France, Courtois was honored with the Golden Glove Award and a spot on the All-Star Team for his outstanding performance in goal.
7. Hugo Lloris
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Contrary to popular belief, Lloris has been a steady and trustworthy presence for Les Bleus throughout his international career. He led France to its first World Cup title in a generation as captain in Russia, when France posted a perfect 3-0 record behind his stellar defensive play.