Manuel Neuer is the World’s Best Goalkeeper 2013

Editorial staff and experts from 70 countries and chosen from all the football continents took part in the 27th running of the IFFHS annual election of The World’s Best Goalkeeper.

After the reign of Iker Casillas since 2008 ( 5 titles in raw), it is not a surprise to see the domination for 2013 from Manuel Neuer, the German goalkeeper of FC Bayern München and the German National Team. After a second place in 2011 and two 4th places in 2010 and 2012, the 27 years old Manuel Neuer is , with more than 130 points advance before the second, the World’s Best Goalkeeper 2013. He won all world, european and german titles with the FC Bayern , concluding a fantastic year with this individual title. He shows also that a great team must have a great goalkeeper.

Behind Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon (35 years old) took the second place after an excellent year with Juventus Torino. He won the title four times (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007) and has been in the TOP 5 since 14 years! At the third place, Petr Cech, the Czech Goalkeeper of Chelsea London, shows all the world that he is with Buffon and Casillas, one of the three World’s Best Goalkeeper of the last 10 years. Cech, 31 years old, has been for the 7th time in th Top 3! After him, Thibaut Courtois, the young goalkeeper of Atlético de Madrid and of the Belgium National Team, can be his successor in Chelsea. He is 21 years old and had a great future. Victor Valdès from FC Barcelona took the 5 th place before Iker Casillas, who was the best from 2008 to 2012, and had a difficult year with Real Madrid. Iker, 32 years old, can have some other great years in the future.

RANKING 2013
1- Manuel NEUER (FC Bayern München): 211 points
2- Gianluigi BUFFON (Juventus FC Torino): 78 points
3- Petr CECH (Chelsea FC London): 64 points
4- Thibaut COURTOIS (Club Atlético de Madrid): 54 points
5- Victore VALDES (FC Barcelona): 53 points
6- Iker CASILLAS (Real Madrid CF): 23 points
7- Salvatore SIRIGU (Paris St Germain): 5 points

From IFFHS : International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

Here is other ranking from Bleacherreport.

• 1. Brad Guzan, Aston Villa

No keeper in a relegation battle has stepped up more for his club this season than Aston Villa\'s Brad Guzan has.

Guzan supplanted veteran Irishman Shay Given in the role as the top keeper at Villa Park at the beginning of the season and he has proven his worth during the duration of the season.

If Guzan had not been in net this season for Villa, surely we would have seen Villa drop to the Championship by this time already.

Guzans strong season in net for the Villains also helped him earn a spot in the United States starting 11 against Costa Rica and Mexico during CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying in March.

• 1. Stephane Ruffier, Saint Etienne

With all the attention in France being on the star-studded Paris St-Germain squad, not much attention has been paid to Saint Etienne and their keeper Stephane Ruffier.

In 36 matches in all competitions, the 26-year-old Frenchman has recorded 17 clean sheets and conceded just 25 goals.

Ruffier has been one of the main reasons why Les Verts are sitting in fifth place in the Ligue 1 table at the moment, which has them in contention for a spot in Europe next season.

• 1. Jimmy Nielsen, Sporting kansas City

While the Major League Soccer season does run concurrently with the European schedule, that does not mean we should ignore the American top flight.

The stingiest defense in MLS at the end of the 2012 season and the start of the 2013 season has been led by Danish keeper Jimmy Nielsen of Sporting Kansas City.

Up until last Saturdays match with the Los Angeles Galaxy, Nielsen had a 545-minute scoreless streak across six matches.

Nielsen was also named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year at the end of the 2012 season this fall and he was named to the 2012 MLS All-Star team that defeated Chelsea in July.

• 1. Arthur Moraes Benfica

It has been a two-horse race on top of the Portuguese Liga all season between giants of the game, Benfica and FC Porto.

Both clubs have played spectacular defense all season long, the two have conceded a combined 27 goals in league play, but one keeper has especially stuck out.

Benficas 32-year-old Brazilian keeper Artur Moraes has recorded 23 clean sheets in domestic and continental play this season.

Moraes expertise in goal has held clubs like Barcelona, Spartak Moscow, Celtic, Bayer Leverkusen and Bordeaux to zero goals in European play.

• 1. Thibaut Courtois,Atletico Madrid

For the last two seasons, Atletico Madrid have benefited from Petr Cechs stronghold on the No. 1 keeper position at Chelsea.

With Cech consistently starting at Stamford Bridge, his successor Thibaut Courtois is excelling in Spain with Los Rojiblancos.

With the 20-year-old Belgian between the pipes, Atletico Madrid have conceded just 25 times in La Liga this season.

Courtois has had 19 clean sheets in La Liga play this season, including shutouts in four of his last five matches.

Now the only question surrounding Courtois is when he will rise to the goalkeeping throne at Stamford Bridge.

• 1. Willy Caballero, Malaga

While Malaga have not conceded fewer goals than Courtois and Atletico Madrid have this season, their wily old keeper Willy Caballero has had a spectacular season.

Caballero was a huge part of Malagas run into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, a competition in which the 31-year-old recorded six clean sheets in nine matches.

In La Liga play, Caballero has recorded 12 clean sheets as his club looks to finish in the top four at the end of the season.

@tiki: what on earth are you talking about? For starters, no, the fact that Ligue 1 players have not been that good in the PL proves the exact opposite of what you were saying (what is this 'titular' thing you've been saying recently?), and secondly, comparing Spanish to English players is utterly irrelevant when talking about the leagues, or did you forget that La Liga's two best players are from Portugal and Argentina, the best defender is from France, best striker is from either Brazil or France, and best goalkeeper is not only from Belgium but also just on loan from an English club?

In other words: JUST ACCEPT THAT YOU ARE WRONG. Seriously, just accept it, because this constant (and constantly futile) attempt to 'prove' otherwise is just so BORING.

@Lodatz

Varane being accepted as the best defender in La Liga makes me proud. :')

Don't forget that Ronaldo was British trained as well. He wouldn't have the success that he has with Madrid today if he didn't play in England first.

Lol sorry, i just noticed taht Titular doesnt exist in English ^^. In French we say Titulaire.
I mean Starters, players who start regularly.
We both have our vision or philosophy about whats important in Football. And actually both philosophies are working. You couldnt be sure that a bottom team in EPL will beat a bottom team in la Liga, but i agree that EPL is more atractive and exciting to watch.
Hope other Spanish teams will catch up, a lot of them sold their main players due to the Spanish crisis, but other talented youth player are formed, and i hope the situation is just a transition for those historical teams.