Dida best Brazilian goalkeeper of 21st century

Sao Paulo - Former AC Milan and Brazil goalkeeper Dida has been ranked the best Brazilian goalkeeper of the 21st century by the International Football Federation of History and Statistics (IFFHS).

Dida is in seventh position in the list, ahead of compatriots Julio Cesar and Rogerio Ceni. Italian Gianluigi Buffon heads the ranking, reports Xinhua.

QPR’s Julio Cesar is in eighth place and is the only other Brazilian in the top 10. Sao Paulo’s Rogerio Ceni is in 13th.

Goalkeeper Marcos, who was first choice for the Selecao in 2002 when they won their fifth World Cup, lies in 34th. He hung up his gloves this year after representing Paulista club Palmeiras for the entirety of his career.

Three more Brazilians made this century’s top 50; Tottenham’s Gomes, Corinthians’ Cassio – who made four outstanding saves as his club won the Club World Cup at the expense of Chelsea – and Liverpool‘s Doni.

Dida spent a decade with Milan, winning one Italian league title and two Champions League crowns. He recently signed for Brazilian club Gremio, who will compete in this year’s Copa Libertadores.

Dida made 91 appearances for the Brazilian national side before retiring in 2006, following Brazil’s elimination against France in the World Cup quarterfinal.

The top 10 are as follows: 1. Gianluigi Buffon, 2. Iker Casillas, 3. Petr Cech, 4. Edwin Van der Sar, 5. Oliver Kahn, 6. Victor Valdes, 7. Dida, 8. Julio Cesar, 9. Jens Lehmann, 10. Roberto Abbondanzieri.