Goalkeepers barely get the praise they deserve. Being a goalkeeper is almost like being a garbage man. It’s a high-paying job where you’re tasked to sweep up all the mess and keep the neighborhood clean. You’re sore and filthy when you come home and you barely get any recognition for your hard work. Not to mention, you’re only called out when you miss an assignment.
He’s widely regarded as one of the best goal-stoppers in the sport, not just because he’s a brick wall between the goal posts, but because of his all-around skills. He can kick-start so many attacking opportunities with his precision passing and footwork. It’s almost as if Spain has an extra defender behind its back line. During Spain’s European qualifying campaign, de Gea notched seven clean sheets and only conceded three goals (against Italy, Israel and Macedonia) in 10 matches. Consider de Gea a heavy favorite win the Golden Glove Award at the end of the tournament.