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Since the year 2000, we've seen some of the best keepers in football history roaming the 18-yard box. In the modern game the goalkeeper role has changed and evolved throughout the last two decades. With Gianluigi Buffon leaving Juventus this year, we look back and decide...
who is the greatest goalkeeper of the century? (so far)
Don't agree with me? Let me know your opinion in the comments below!
#5 Victor Valdes
A pioneer of the 'sweeper-keeper' role in the modern game, Victor Valdes was a rock in the heart of Pep Guardiola's unstoppable Barcelona team of 2008-12.
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The Catalan's number one for over 10 years, Valdes won his second and third La Liga title under Guardiola amid an extensive tally of 14 trophies. Often undervalued at international level as an understudy to Real Madrid galactico Iker Casillas, Valdes only made his international debut in 2010, with a mere 20 appearances for Spain.
However, for Barcelona, he is considered a modern-day legend, and the now-retired Spaniard is the most capped keeper for the club with 387 appearances.
#4 Hugo Lloris
Still widely underrated, Lloris silenced his doubters this summer as he captained France to a first World Cup victory since 1999.
Moving to Spurs in 2012 for a bargain fee of £11.8m fee, the 31-year-old has risen up the ranks at Tottenham, becoming club captain last year. The adaption to the demands of the Premier League has been no barrier to Lloris, who has made 75 clean sheets in 209 appearances in the league for the North London club.
His skill with the ball is well above average for a keeper, a value that is quickly growing in appeal.
#3 Manuel Neuer
England fans look away now. Despite his role in Frank Lampard's disallowed "ghost goal" at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the German international is widely considered one of the world's best ever keepers.
Perfecting the "sweeper-keeper" role, Neuer is the perfect mold of what a modern-day goalkeeper should be, displacing the great Oliver Kahn for Bayern Munich and the German national side.
Neuer has ticked off almost every major tournament there is, playing a major role in Germany's World Cup victory in 2014, as well being a pivotal figure in Bayern Munich's domination in the German domestic league over the past decade.
He is the first ever German to win the treble of a World Cup, German Cup and Bundesliga in 2012/13.
#2 Iker Casillas
Casillas is largely thought as one of the greatest shot stopper's of all time, famously producing a jaw-dropping save against Holland forward Arjen Robben in the 2010 World Cup final.
A Champions League winner aged 19, Casillas was immovable as the Real Madrid number one for over a decade. Captain of the national side, Casillas was vital to Spain's victories at the European Championships of '08 and '12, as well as the World Cup win in 2010, the first time in history Spain has won on the greatest stage of all.
Many people believe that Casillas was a more skilled keeper than Buffon in his prime, but his consistency declined rapidly after 2012. Now seeing out the autumn of his playing days at Porto, he has not been able to keep up his world-class performances that he regularly produced earlier in his career.
#1 Gianluigi Buffon
The grandfather of modern football has been producing consistently world class displays for two decades. He may have shown his greatest skills in his early Juventus days, but his ability to stay at the top level, for a goalkeeper, has been astonishing.
With no notable career low point, Buffon has been a loyal servant to Italian football both domestically and for the national side. Even the hardest part of his career- Juve's relegation to Serie B after a financial scandal in 2006- only embellished his long career. The determination he showed to help the club regroup to find their place back amongst Europe's elite has gained him legend status amongst Juventus fans, and huge respect in the footballing community.
His amazing longevity has made Juve's purchase of him in 2001 for €52m look a bargain, whilst his 175 caps for Italy is a European record. Not to mention he was between the sticks when Italy beat France on penalties to win the 2006 World Cup in Germany. A masterful and classy player, Buffon is the very best in the 21st century.
