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Though they are rarely heralded as much as their more attack-minded teammates, goalkeepers can often be the difference between victory and defeat, especially at the World Cup, where margins are thin and pressure is intense.
Over the last century, several World Cup keepers have produced feats of athleticism so heroic that they’ve earned instant and eternal cult-hero status.
These iconic net minders with otherworldly reflexes have often dragged their teams to against-the-odds glory in international football’s biggest stage, parrying their way into the history books in gravity-defying style.
With anticipation starting to simmer ahead of this summer’s 2026 World Cup, we’ve taken a look back at some of the competition’s most extraordinary goalkeeping displays.
5. Dino Zoff – Italy, 1982 World Cup
At the grand age of 40 years and 133 days old, Dino Zoff became the oldest player ever to win the World Cup when he helped Italy to land the trophy at Spain’s expense in 1982.
However, Zoff didn’t just earn admiration for his remarkable longevity, it was his skills between the sticks and unwavering leadership under the most intense pressure imaginable that set him apart.
The Azzurri had scraped over the line during the initial Group Stage, earning qualification by a hair’s breadth following an uninspiring return of three draws in three games against Poland, Peru and Cameroon.
Italy finally achieved lift-off on the second group phase with wins over Argentina (2-1) and Brazil (3-2) in Spain, with Zoff’s performance in the latter especially impactful.
The dazzling Brazilians, who had the likes of Sócrates, Zico and Falcão, would have been odds-on favourites to win the tournament outright had a World Cup 2026 betting guide existed for the 1982 edition of the competition.
Italy were leading 2-1 in the 68th minute and with the tie on a knife-edge, Zoff produced what the Italians still call “La Parata”, a miraculous full-length dive to claw Oscar’s powerful header away from underneath the crossbar.
The save preserved Italy’s lead and prevented what looked a certain equaliser. Italy eventually went on to win 3-2 in one of the greatest matches in World Cup history, before beating Poland in the semi-final and West Germany 3-1 in the final, with Zoff lifting the trophy as captain.
4. Oliver Kahn – Germany, 2002 World Cup
They say that you need to be a little unhinged to be a goalkeeper and Oliver Kahn probably falls into that category. Der Titan lived up to his moniker and then some during Germany’s run to the World Cup Final in 2002.
This was the year that a goalkeeper was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player for the first time, a feat that hasn’t been repeated since.
Germany, who were in a period of transition, weren’t fancied by any fan, pundit or best betting site for World Cup expert to triumph in Japan/South Korea, however, an inspirational Kahn carried Die Mannschaft all the way to the climax.
Kahn, who was in his pomp for Bayern Munich at the time, conceded just one goal across the six matches leading into the showpiece in Yokohama, an incredible record for a German side that relied so heavily on their number one throughout.
The colossus produced save after save for Germany, though cruelly he made an error when his team fell short against Brazil (0-2) at the final hurdle, spilling a shot which Ronaldo gleefully finished from the rebound.
Still, despite that final faff, Kahn’s commanding presence, consistency and dominance were such that FIFA recognised him as the World Cup’s outstanding individual.
3. Tim Howard – United States, 2014 World Cup
Our next entry centres on a single game during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil on an occasion when veteran stopper Tim Howard put in a shift for the ages.
Perennial underdogs, the United States, were paired up with Belgium in the Round of 16 in Salvador, a tie that a star-studded Belgian outfit, that included Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, were expected to coast through.
However, what followed at the Arena Fonte Nova was one of the best individual showcases of goalkeeping ever witnessed at the World Cup.
Tim Howard, who played his club football with Everton back then, made a record-breaking 16 saves against Belgium, the most in a single WC match since the statistic has been officially recorded.
Howard’s string of incredible interventions included acrobatic leaps, point-blank blocks and instinctive reactions as he thwarted efforts from Mirallas, Origi and De Bruyne among others.
Unfortunately for Howard, his sweat and endeavour went unrewarded with the USA eventually losing 2-1 in extra time, though the keeper did leave the pitch to a standing ovation and US President, Barack Obama, even called him to congratulate him afterwards.
2. Emiliano Martínez – Argentina, 2022 World Cup
Just as they are in most World Cup 2026 betting predictions published this year, Argentina were among the favourites to triumph in Qatar four years ago, and though they ultimately delivered, they had goalie Emi Martinez to thank for their triumph.
The 2022 Final will always be remembered as one of the greatest of all time and Emiliano Martinez was one of the game’s protagonists.
With the score locked 3-3 and mere seconds on the clock in extra time, France had a huge chance to win when Randal Kolo Muani found himself clean through on goal.
However, Martínez reacted in a nanosecond, spreading himself brilliantly to block Kolo Muani’s shot with his outstretched leg, a save that forced the final to penalties, keeping Argentina’s hopes alive.
In the shootout itself, Martinez rolled out his expertise of the dark arts to psyche out the French takers and eventually made two crucial saves.
Argentina won 4-2 on spot-kicks, securing Lionel Messi’s long-awaited World Cup crown, while Martínez picked up a richly deserved Golden Glove.
1. Gordon Banks – England, 1970 World Cup
Ask any football fan to name the greatest saves of all time and Gordon Banks’s jaw-dropping stop at the 1970 World Cup to deny Pelé will usually be near the front of the queue and at the top of the running order.
This was “only” a group stage encounter, though Banks made the occasion a proper footballing landmark. With England already behind, the goal-scorer Jairzinho centred a perfectly-aimed cross from the right flank.
Pelé, who was waiting in the middle, rose majestically and powered a downward header towards the bottom corner. Once it left his head, the effort had goal written all over it, though Banks had other ideas.
Diving low to his right, Banks somehow got his hand to the ball, scooping it over the crossbar and to safety. Pelé stood with hands on hips in disbelief before applauding Bank’s supreme intervention himself.
Unsurprisingly, the save has since been voted the greatest in World Cup history and it remains the benchmark against which every other piece of goalkeeping excellence is measured.
