Net of Injustice

They say you have to be mad to be a goalkeeper, and usually they're spot on. Some of the past decade's most eccentric players have been between the sticks.

We will always remember Mexico stalwart Jorge Campos's violently lucid self-designed attire, or Fabien Barthez's comical arm-raising gesture towards Paolo Di Canio in the FA Cup. Similarly, we were all open-mouthed when Colombian Rene Higuita performed his now-legendary scorpion kick.

But when you look past the wacky antics of the most famous shot-stoppers though, you will find brilliant reflexes, acrobatic dives and intelligent distribution. From Kahn to Cech and Peruzzi to Seaman, some of the most consistently brilliant performers have come from goalkeepers.

Therefore it is naturally perplexing how little recognition 'keepers get in major football awards. In the 53-year history of the Ballon d'Or, or European Footballer of the Year, only once has a goalkeeper bagged the prize. Aside from the legendary Lev Yashin in 1963, no goalkeeper has even made it into the top three nominations. Similarly, the various World Player of the Year awards have never been won by a man in gloves.

To the knowledgable football fan, this should seem alarming. If the likes of Dino Zoff, Gordon Banks and Peter Schmeichel are regarded as three of the best players of their generation, how strange it is then that not one of them came close to the gong.

It seems that in football, goals are everything. Ask ten people on the street who they think is the best player in the world today and chances are not one will give you a Buffon or a Casillas or a Cech.

The Spanish captain in particular is cruelly overlooked on awards nights. At 28, his CV is more complete than most pushing 40. He is still the youngest captain of Real Madrid, became a double Champions League winner before his 21st birthday and already has 96 caps for his country.

Perhaps it is time for FIFA or UEFA to devise new criteria for these awards, finding a balance between goals and clean sheets. After all, it is likely that outfield players would feel aggrieved if the glove was on the other hand!