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They say goalkeepers are the last line of defense. The saying cannot be more true, especially in the modern game. However, modern-day goalkeepers do not just command their boxes, stop shots and intercept crosses. Most of them are also adept at playing the ball out from the back, kickstarting attacks for their teams.
Many successful teams in club and international football have excellent ball-playing goalkeepers. Liverpool's Alisson Becker, Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, Manchester City's Ederson and even young Italian custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma are some notable examples in this regard.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of successful goalkeepers who aren't necessarily ball-playing custodians, but have fared excellently for their teams over the years. On that note, here's a look at the five best goalkeepers over the age of 30.
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#5 Yassine Bounou (Sevilla/Morocco)
Yassine Bounou has been a standout performer for Sevilla since arriving at the club from Girona in the summer of 2019.
The Moroccan international has kept an impressive 35 clean sheets in 63 games in all competitions for the Andalusian club. Bounou played a key role in Sevilla's triumphant Europa League campaign in 2019-20.
He incredibly scored in the La Liga last season, becoming only the second goalkeeper in the last two years to score in the competition.
The 30-year-old, who has made over 20 appearances for Morocco, is renowned for his shot-stopping prowess, particularly impressing against Manchester United in the 2019-20 Europa League semi-final.
With both United and Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in his services, it remains to be seen if Bounou will remain at Sevilla next season.
#4 Wojciech Szczesny
Wojciech Szczesny has won three Serie A titles in his four-season stay at Juventus. He has managed to stay as the club's no. 1 even after the legendary Gianluigi Buffon returned in 2019 after a one-season stay at PSG.
The Polish custodian remains one of the top goalkeepers in the game despite enduring an underwhelming league campaign in 2020-21. Juventus failed in their pursuit of a tenth consecutive Serie A title last season.
At Euro 2020, Szczesny endured a forgettable campaign, becoming the first custodian to concede an own goal in the competition's history as Poland crashed out in the group stage.
However, the start of the new season should see the 31-year-old Polish custodian back to his best as Juventus eye a return to winning ways in Serie A.
#3 David de Gea
David de Gea was once regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the game. That is evident in his successful decade-long stint at Manchester United, where he has kept 155 clean sheets in nearly 450 appearances.
Although his reflexes have seemingly been on the decline in recent seasons, he remains a key player under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. However, De Gea is longer the Spain no. 1 after a series of inefficient outings, with the Spanish custodian not stopping a penalty for over five years.
Nevertheless, the 30-year-old, who has won a Premier League and two Europa League titles among other honors, is expected to remain at Old Trafford despite rumors linking him with an exit from the club.
#2 Keylor Navas
Keylor Navas has been a standout performer for PSG since moving from Spanish giants Real Madrid two years ago.
He was considered surplus to requirements in Madrid, where the 34-year-old won a La Liga and three Champions League titles. However, since leaving Madrid, Navas has fared better in the French capital. He has kept a clean sheet almost every two games, made several key saves and almost won a continental quadruple in 2019-20.
However, the arrival of Euro 2020 winner Gianluigi Donnarumma at PSG this summer means Navas is all set to be second choice at the club.
#1 Manuel Neuer
Widely considered one of the best goalkeepers to have graced the game, Manuel Neuer continues to be the first choice for club and country despite being 35.
Neuer has kept an impressive 212 clean sheets in 433 appearances for Bayern Munich across competitions. He has won nine Bundesliga titles and two continental trebles among various honors for the club.
One of the best ball-playing keepers in the game, Neuer has made over 100 appearances for Germany, with whom he won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Despite enduring a Round-of-16 exit at Euro 2020, Neuer is expected to continue his stellar outings when the 2021-22 club season commences.
