Iker Casillas

50 Top Soccer Player their trade today, based on a combination of current form, potential and overall ability.  Ranking  determined by a panel of contributors to ESPN's soccer.

Iker Casillas          Rank Player 15

Profile
Birth name                 Iker Casillas Fernández
Nicknamed                San Iker
Birth date                  May 20, 1981
Birth place                 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
Height                       1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position         Goalkeeper/Goalie
National team            Spain
Current club              Real Madrid
Number                    1

Biography
Iker Casillas  is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, being the captain of both. He is a hero to millions of Madridistas, Casillas also has a strong claim to the title of the finest goalkeeper of his generation.

Casillas has been an established and respected member of the first XI ever since and has played a major role in Real's extensive success over the past decade - winning almost everything there is to win in the game. A wonder-save against Sevilla in October only confirmed the suspicion that Casillas will go down in the history books as one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of the game. 

As of 2011 Casillas is one of a very select group of players who have won all major club and national championship titles. In 2010, he was awarded with the Sports Prince of Asturias Award. On 19 October 2010, Casillas became the most capped goalkeeper of all time in the UEFA Champions League and in November 2011, he became the most capped player of all time for the Spanish national team.

Scouting thumbnail
Lacks the physical presence of other top goalkeepers but possesses superior reflexes and positioning. Composed and deals solidly with aerial crosses.  As the last line of defence in a team that often pays scant regard to such an art, Casillas gets plenty of practice and frequently demonstrates his impressive reflexes, superb agility and innate ability to pull off a spectacular save. His forceful personality and will to win ensure he is a born leader.