Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel set the standard for modern goalkeeping, winning five Premier League titles with Manchester United and the 1999 Champions League—where he saved a decisive penalty against Bayern Munich in the quarterfinal, a moment that outperforms #1 Lev Yashin's single-club legacy in terms of big-game impact. Standing 6ft 4in and weighing 14 stone, his physical presence combined with supreme reflexes and two-handed distribution allowed United to concede just 22 league goals in his first full season. He earned 129 caps for Denmark and led them to a stunning Euro 1992 victory, a major tournament win unmatched by #4 Oliver Kahn. Voted world's best goalkeeper by IFFHS in 1992 and 1993, his penalty save rate of 25% in competitive matches was 5% higher than the average top-tier keeper of his era.