8 Potential Winners Of The World Cup 2018 Golden Glove Award

Whilst it is the goal scorers that grab most of the glory in the World Cup, the goalkeepers play a huge part in the tournament as well. The best stopper of the event walks away with the Golden Glove Award and here are nine men in contention for winning it in Russia this year.

8. Fernando Muslera
   

The Galatasaray stopper will play at his third World Cup when the 2018 tournament comes around and should pick up his 100^th cap during the tournament. He is as experienced as anyone in the competition and will be out to win the thing with Uruguay as he comes into his peak at 31-years-old.

The Uruguayans were 35/1 with a particlular bookie so they will need some major performances to do so. Most will expect them to come from the likes of Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani, but Muslera could be the one to be his country’s hero.

Uruguay came fourth in 2010 and a similar performance will put Muslera in with a great chance.

7. Jordan Pickford

Yes, this doesn’t seem especially likely, but England’s inexperienced goalkeeper has a shot at walking away from the World Cup with the Golden Glove Award.

Pickford looks the most likely to get the nod as Gareth Southgate’s number one, and if the Three Lions can make an unlikely run to the quarter-finals and beyond then their keeper will have had a lot to do with it.

The 24-year-old has the potential to really catch the eye with his excellent distribution, which could just give him the edge over his contenders. Although he will have to be on top form, possibly more so than he has shown so far in his Everton career.

6. Thibault Courtois
   

Belgium are one of the favourites to win the World Cup at 12/1 and much of that is down to their excellent backline, anchored by Thibault Courtois in goal.

The Chelsea stopper is a dominant force at the back and Belgium have got a draw which should see them ease into the quarter-finals, from where they will be very difficult to stop. If Belgium reach their first ever World Cup final then Courtois will be a shoe-in for the Golden Glove.

5. Hugo Lloris
   

France are a difficult team to read at the moment – full of quality but unpredictable and famously capable of complete meltdown at big tournaments. The bookies see them as a serious threat at 7/1 with Unibet to win the competition.

Hugo Lloris has not had his best season in goal for Tottenham, but he is extremely experienced on the international stage and will be a solid presence for the French between the sticks – probably winning his 100^th cap during the tournament.

As the captain of the side, if they perform well he will be an obvious choice for the award.

4. David De Gea
   

Spain are not the force they once were in major tournaments, but that could just allow David de Gea to shine as the sensational goalkeeper he is. The faults in the Manchester United side for which he plays has done something similar – the Spaniard has been handed the chance to show off his shot-stopping skills and he has taken that chance with both hands.

Spain are still more than good enough to reach the latter stages, but if they are to win it will take some huge performances from De Gea. Such are the highlight reel nature of his saves, it could well be enough for him to take home the Golden Glove.

3. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
   

This is an interesting one, because there is every chance Ter Stegen might not play a single minute of football at the World Cup, however, he still deserves his spot as third most likely to win the Golden Glove.

Germany’s first choice goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, has been out injured since September and is still not ready to play. He is in the preliminary squad and is expected to recover in time for the trip to Russia, but that is no guarantee at this stage. If Neuer doesn’t make it, or relapses, then Ter Stegen will come in and have every chance of lifting the World Cup and the Golden Glove Award.

2. Manuel Neuer
   

If Neuer makes it back from his injury then he will play, and then he has a very good chance of winning the Golden Glove, just as he did four years ago in Brazil.

No stopper has ever won the award back-to-back or even won it twice at all. However, Germany have a very good chance of retaining the World Cup and Neuer does such a good job as the sweeper-keeper that he could make history this summer.

The only thing keeping him off top spot here is the question marks over his fitness after missing so much football due to his fractured foot.

1. Alisson Becker
   

Brazil are the favourites to win the World Cup with most bookies on them lifting the trophy for the first time since 2002.

Alisson has been receiving rave reviews for his performances for Roma this season, with Liverpool reportedly very interested in his services this summer. He has only been their first choice keeper for one season but is already his national team’s number one ahead of his first World Cup.

It would be a piece of history if Alisson wins the Golden Glove as no Brazilian has done so before, but as he is keeping Manchester City stopper Edison out of the side, he clearly has every chance of doing so. Looking to shine in front of the world for the first time, Alisson looks a good bet to take home some individual glory from Russia.