FIFA Team Of The Year: 11 Overlooked Players Who Deserved Inclusion

Goalkeeper

11. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus & Italy)

FIFPro's choice of Manuel Neuer in the goalkeeper slot is fairly hard to dispute. Long considered one of the most promising talents between the sticks, Neuer has matured into an excellent all round player that few forwards would care to play against. The alternative choice is a much more established great who began the year with a Goalkeeper of the Century award. Even so, 2013 has been a particularly good year for Gianluigi Buffon. That he lifted his first Scudetto trophy as Juventus captain is a testament to his leadership ability. That he did so conceding just 19 goals all season is indicative of how essential he was to Juve's triumph with a team that is not one of their best. The opening months of the new season have seen Buffon hit his 500th Serie A game on his way to a run of 745 consecutive minutes without conceding (beating his previous record of 568). He has led the Old Lady to the top of the league, with just one defeat in 20. 2013 also saw him become Italy's most capped player with 138 appearances. He was named the national team's Player of the Year after leading them to qualification for the 2014 World Cup and keeping a clean sheet against the Spanish in the Confederations Cup Semi-Final before saving three penalties against Uruguay for his country to finish third.