Lev Yashin

Lev Yashin remains the only goalkeeper in history to win the Ballon d'Or (1963), a feat unmatched by any other shot-stopper, including #2 Peter Schmeichel or #3 Gianluigi Buffon. Over 812 career games for Dynamo Moscow and the Soviet Union, he kept a clean sheet in more than half—an extraordinary 438 shutouts—and saved over 150 penalties in competitive play, a documented record. His 78 international caps for the USSR solidified his global impact. Known as the "Black Spider" for his all-black kit, Yashin revolutionized the role by organizing defenses, commanding his box, and using his feet, decades before it became standard. His penalty-saving rate (roughly 30% of spot kicks faced) remains a benchmark for modern goalkeepers.