Iker Casillas

At the age of 18, he became the youngest goalkeeper to play in the Uefa Champions League in 1999, and the rest, as they say, is history. Wait a minute; we are talking about one Iker Casillas, the short stopper who went on to complete 725 appearances for Real Madrid, in what would be a successful 16-year career at the club. With five La Liga titles, three Champions League titles, four Spanish Super Cups, two Uefa Super Cups, and two Copa Del Reys, Casillas left the Los Blancos as one of the most decorated player in the history of the club.

Amassing a total of 167 appearances for Spain, Casillas would also become the most capped player in his country. His heroics between the sticks guided the Spain national team to two Uefa Euro cups, and of course, the 2010 Fifa World Cup trophy.

Iker’s height was perhaps what baffled many people. Standing at just 6 feet tall, he could easily be written off. However, when the Los Blancos gave him a chance, they never regretted as the man demonstrated that best goalkeeping is not just about height. He was also an excellent leader, and whenever the temperatures went high during the El-clasico, Iker was the glue that kept his fellow nationals together.