Which goalkeepers have won the World Cup Golden Glove award?

Inspired by the stories of iconic World Cup goalkeepers specified arsenic Gordon Banks, Dino Zoff, Gylmar and the legendary Lev Yashin, FIFA created the Golden Glove successful 1994 to honour and recognise outstanding performances betwixt the sticks. Since then, 8 antithetic players person taken location the award, 3 of whom did not triumph the World Cup itself.

Here, Sports Mole provides a rundown of each goalkeeper to person earned the prestigious honour of being named the champion goalkeeper astatine a World Cup tournament.

Michel Preud'homme (Belgium) – 1994

In the award's inaugural edition, the aforesaid tourney successful which Brazil claimed their 4th satellite title, Belgian goalkeeper Michel Preud'homme took location the prize. This effect stirred immoderate contention fixed the bonzer performances of the legendary Taffarel. By FIFA's criteria, the 4 matches Preud'homme played for Belgium, packed with large saves and 2 cleanable sheets, were deemed capable to gain him the honour, contempt the humble run that ended astatine the past 16.

By comparison, Taffarel conceded conscionable 3 goals passim the full tournament, saved a important punishment successful the last against Italy, and shared the spotlight of that triumph with nary different than Romário.

Fabien Barthez (France) – 1998

A tormentor of Brazil successful 1998, Fabien Barthez is 1 of the astir compelling goalkeepers successful World Cup history. In the tourney that delivered France's maiden title, Barthez was decisive for a broadside built astir the brilliance of Zinedine Zidane.

Across the 7 matches that culminated successful the World title, Barthez kept 5 cleanable sheets and saved Demetrio Albertini's punishment successful the quarter-final against Italy. Once again, helium edged retired a heroic Taffarel, who had different exceptional tournament, successful the contention for the Golden Glove.

Oliver Kahn (Germany) – 2002

The 2002 World Cup, Brazil's past title, was different variation successful which the champion's goalkeeper was not named the tournament's best. Despite the brilliance of Marcos, whose saves proved decisive successful the knockout rounds, Oliver Kahn was successful a people of his own. Appearing successful his 3rd World Cup, the German was the undisputed standout performer of that tournament, contempt his mistake successful the last against Ronaldo.

Worth noting is that astatine the time, idiosyncratic awards were voted connected earlier the last itself, and, beyond the Golden Glove, Kahn was besides named subordinate of the tournament.

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) – 2006

Considered by galore the top goalkeeper of each time, Gianluigi Buffon had the accidental to adhd the eventual crowning accomplishment to his vocation with Italy successful 2006. Appearing successful his 3rd World Cup, Buffon led a antiaircraft portion of the highest calibre, 1 that was breached conscionable doubly passim the competition. Although helium did not prevention a punishment successful the final, the Italian icon produced 1 of the tournament's defining images erstwhile helium made a breathtaking prevention to contradict Zidane's header.

Iker Casillas (Spain) – 2010

The skipper of Spain's 1 and lone satellite title, Iker Casillas, was a cornerstone of a squad brimming with talent; Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez among them. In his 3rd World Cup, the Real Madrid icon shone brightly, keeping 5 cleanable sheets successful 7 matches connected the mode to glory, and etching himself into the tournament's representation with a singular feet-save to contradict Arjen Robben successful the final. He was duly voted the champion goalkeeper of the edition.

Manuel Neuer (Germany) – 2014

Twelve years aft Germany's erstwhile World Cup final, Manuel Neuer stepped into the relation of talisman, overmuch arsenic Oliver Kahn had successful 2002, but this clip with a blessed ending. At the implicit highest of his powers, not simply successful extremity but besides arsenic a pioneer of sweeper-keeper play, Neuer was wide credited arsenic a driving unit down Germany's 4th satellite championship. He went connected to beryllium regarded arsenic 1 of the finest goalkeepers of immoderate generation. A colossus who unopen retired Lionel Messi and institution successful the historical last astatine the Maracana.

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) – 2018

The past goalkeeper to triumph the Golden Glove without claiming the World Cup rubric was Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian was 1 of the standout figures of his side's tally to 3rd place, producing a drawstring of captious saves - astir notably successful the bruising quarter-final against Brazil. His performances thrust him into the planetary spotlight, and Real Madrid duly moved to motion him successful the weeks that followed the tournament.

Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) – 2022

Perhaps the slightest heralded sanction connected this prime database erstwhile the tourney began, Emiliano Martinez became 1 of the defining characters of Argentina's long-awaited instrumentality to satellite football's summit.

Known for his combative and provocative personality, Dibu was decisive successful punishment shootouts against the Netherlands successful the quarter-finals and France successful the final, contributing 3 important saves. The Aston Villa stopper besides produced the prevention of the tournament, an acrobatic halt from Kolo Muani successful the dying moments of other clip that kept Argentina live successful the final.