An Award's Illustrious History
The award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup was officially introduced in 1994, initially named the Lev Yashin Award in honour of the legendary Soviet shot-stopper, the only keeper to ever win the Ballon d'Or. Since the 2010 tournament in South
Africa, it has been known as the Golden Glove Award. It is voted on by the FIFA Technical Study Group and recognises the most outstanding goalkeeper of the tournament, celebrating the heroes between the sticks. Although goalkeepers were named to an unofficial All-Star team in earlier tournaments, this award created an official, prestigious honour.
1994: Michel Preud'homme (Belgium)
The inaugural winner was Belgium's Michel Preud'homme, who was a force of nature at the 1994 World Cup in the USA. At 35 years old, he produced a series of breathtaking performances, defined by incredible agility and reflex saves. Despite Belgium being knocked out in the round of 16 by Germany, Preud'homme's individual brilliance was undeniable. He kept two clean sheets and conceded just four goals in four matches, and his heroics, particularly against the Netherlands, set a high bar for all future winners.
1998: Fabien Barthez (France)
On home soil, Fabien Barthez was a charismatic and crucial part of France's first-ever World Cup triumph. Conceding just two goals throughout the entire tournament, Barthez kept an astonishing five clean sheets, including in the quarter-final, semi-final, and the 3-0 final victory over Brazil. Known for his shaved head, which teammate Laurent Blanc would famously kiss for good luck before each match, Barthez combined eccentric flair with brilliant, match-winning goalkeeping.
2002: Oliver Kahn (Germany)
Oliver Kahn's performance in 2002 is legendary. He became the first and, to date, only goalkeeper in history to win the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, in addition to the Golden Glove. 'Der Titan' was an intimidating and dominant force, single-handedly dragging an unfancied German side to the final. He kept five clean sheets and conceded only one goal before the final match against Brazil. Though an uncharacteristic error in the final cost his team, his heroics throughout the tournament remain iconic.
2006: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Gianluigi Buffon's 2006 campaign was a masterclass in calm, commanding goalkeeping as he led Italy to their fourth World Cup title. Buffon was a pillar of strength, keeping a remarkable five clean sheets and conceding only two goals in seven matches. Incredibly, neither of those goals was from open play; one was an own goal and the other a penalty in the final. His presence and crucial saves were instrumental in Italy's glorious run.
2010: Iker Casillas (Spain)
Spain's maiden World Cup victory in 2010 was built on a rock-solid defence, captained and anchored by 'Saint Iker'. Iker Casillas didn't concede a single goal in the knockout stages, shutting out Portugal, Paraguay, Germany, and the Netherlands. His most defining moment came in the final, with an incredible one-on-one save to deny Arjen Robben, using his outstretched foot to deflect a certain goal. That save preserved the tie, allowing Andrés Iniesta to score the historic winner in extra time.
2014: Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Manuel Neuer redefined the goalkeeping position at the 2014 World Cup, popularising the role of the 'sweeper-keeper' on the global stage. While he was an exceptional shot-stopper, it was his willingness to rush off his line and act as an 11th outfield player that truly stood out, particularly against Algeria in the round of 16. Neuer recorded four clean sheets as Germany claimed its fourth star, and his revolutionary style cemented his place as one of the game's great innovators.
2018: Thibaut Courtois (Belgium)
Belgium achieved their best-ever World Cup finish, third place, thanks in large part to the towering presence of Thibaut Courtois. He made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the tournament, with 27 stops across seven games. His standout performance was in the quarter-final against Brazil, where he made a string of spectacular saves to secure a famous 2-1 victory for the Red Devils. Courtois became the second Belgian to win the award, following in the footsteps of his hero, Michel Preud'homme.
2022: Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez was Argentina's hero in Qatar, delivering decisive, high-stakes moments when it mattered most. He was a master of mind games and crucial saves during penalty shootouts against the Netherlands and France. His most iconic contribution was an astonishing, last-gasp save in the 123rd minute of the final, spreading himself to block Randal Kolo Muani's shot and keep Argentina's dream alive. That save, arguably one of the most important in World Cup history, sent the game to penalties, where Martínez once again proved decisive in securing Argentina's third title.
