The Bayern Munich star has been voted the best goalkeeper at this summer’s World Cup, beating off competition from Keylor Navas and Sergio Romero
Manuel Neuer completed a dream night by being awarded the Golden Glove prize after lifting the World Cup following Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina.
The Bayern Munich man kept a clean sheet to round off an impressive tournament at the Maracana, where Mario Gotze’s extra-time strike was the difference between the two sides.
“It is unbelievable,” Neuer admitted after the game. “The team has done superbly, not only the players, but also the team behind the team. At some point we will stop celebrating, but we will always stand up again with a smile.”
Neuer was nominated along with Keylor Navas of Costa Rica and Argentina’s Sergio Romero, but beat the pair to the title of best goalkeeper at Brazil 2014.
The 28-year-old impressed with his ability to play the ball out from the back with his feet as well as his rushes out to clear danger in what was almost a sweeper role, as Germany operated with a high defensive line throughout the tournament.
He also produced a host of superb saves as Germany advanced through the competition, including seven stops in one game as the European nation overcame Algeria 2-1 in the last-16.
Neuer ended the competition with a save percentage of 85.2 per cent, a statistic only bettered by Navas, who boasted a 91% success rate before Costa Rica’s quarter-final exit at the hands of Netherlands.
