Iker Casillas

Spanish Players

Iker Casillas

gbs

June 5, 2025

Casillas was born on 20 May 1981 in Mostoles. He is Spanish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and currently works as a football commentator. Casillas is one of the few players to achieve over 1,000 professional career matches, and also holds the record for the most clean sheets for the Spain national team. At club level, Casillas started his career with the Real Madrid youth team, eventually gaining promotion to the main team in 1999, where he became the youngest goalkeeper to play in the final of the Champions League, and to win the title, at 19 years and four days. Casillas became the first choice goalkeeper at Real Madrid, winning two Champions Leagues and La Liga titles in his first three seasons, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. In 2008, Casillas placed fourth overall in the Ballon d’Or, and was selected for the UEFA Team of the Year six consecutive times from 2007 to 2012, a record for a goalkeeper. Casillas was also selected in the FIFPro World XI a record five times for a goalkeeper, and was named as the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper a record five times, alongside Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer. Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup Casillas is currently the second most capped player in the history of the Spain national team. Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup. Casillas played in all eight Group six fixtures during Euro 2004 qualifying, conceding just four goals. 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup. Casillas was Spain’s starting goalkeeper during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, making four appearances as Spain finished the tournament in third place.

Although Casillas committed an error which led to a goal in Spain’s 1–0 defeat to Switzerland in their opening match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup on 11 July 2010, Casillas captained Spain to their first ever World Cup title with a 1–0 win against the Netherlands in extra-time.

2018 World Cup On 21 May 2018, Casillas was left out of Julen Lopetegui’s final 23-man Spain squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Iker Casillas has won the Golden Glove award a total of 5 times. Casillas is considered to be one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Retirement On 4 August 2020, Casillas officially announced his retirement from professional football.