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Top Ten Real Madrid Players of All Time
- Updated: 23 March, 2012
8 – IKER CASILLAS
EFE/Alberto Morante
The only current charge to make this list, Casillas made his debut for Los Merengues in 1999 when he came on as a substitute for Bodo Illgner. He became the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a Champions League final the following year when the Madrid outfit defeated Valencia 3-0 four days after his 19th birthday.
Casillas had established himself as first choice goalkeeper but a run of poor form led to him being dropped until Cesar Sanchez was injured during the 2002 Champions League final. Casillas came on and pulled off a string of great saves cementing his place in the side and he has been immovable since, providing a consistent and reassuring presence between the sticks for both club and country.
Casillas possesses four La Liga winner’s medals and when captaining Spain to their first World Cup win in 2010, joined of an elite group of footballers to have lifted every major club and international trophy.
He became Spain’s most capped player on the 15th November last year when he started in the 2-2 draw with Costa Rica and at just 30 years of age, he looks certain to break Raúl’s all-time club appearance record before he hangs up his gloves.
Casillas is the only goalkeeper to win the FFHS Best Goalkeeper award on four separate occasions.
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