5 most underrated goalkeepers in Europe

#4 Stéphane Ruffier (AS Saint-Étienne)

Ruffier tries to keep the ball out vs Manchester United

Ruffier began his youth career at Bayonne in the fourth tier of French football and signed a professional deal with AS Monaco in 2005.

He was initially the second choice at the club and made his way into the first team when first-choice keeper Flavio Roma was injured. His impressive performances led him to the first Goalkeeper slot and he established himself firmly there for three years.

His injury in the last four matches of the 2010-11 season saw him sit out and watch Monaco get relegated finishing 18th, something that many attributed to the absence of Ruffier from the side.

He rejected a move to Manchester City and also refused to join Saint-Etienne, and has stayed loyal to the club despite interest from many other sources. Notably, Ruffier had not missed a single league match for the club between 2011 and 2016.

Ruffier's consistency is underappreciated by many spectators which is unfortunate because of his unquestionable talent. He has been pushed down the pecking order for the French national team because of the excellent performance of Hugo Lloris who plays in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur.

To make matters worse of Ruffier, Lloris is the France national team captain, meaning the chances of making the starting eleven are further reduced. However, the Saint-Etienne man who is known to be an excellent shot-stopper with great reflexes works hard and regularly for his club where he is indisputably the main man.