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No. 27 Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich/Germany
Why he's ranked: Finding a flaw in Neuer's makeup has been a demanding task in recent years, with his consistent brilliance for Schalke, Bayern Munich and the German national team singling him out as many an observer's pick for the best stopper in the world game. Agile, a superb reader of the game and seemingly unflappable, he now has experience to add to his natural talents.
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caption: Neuer can take over a game with his abilities between the posts and will be one of the best goalies in Brazil.
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Key stat: Second-best save percentage (among players who have faced at least 100 shots) in Bundesliga over past three seasons (77.8 percent). Named 2013 IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper, as well as named to FIFA/FIFPro World XI and UEFA Team of the Year in 2013.
What The Experts Say: "Neuer has world-class reflexes, a real presence in the box and, most of all, is a very gifted footballer. Germany's high defensive line needs a keeper who can play as a sweeper. Neuer's footwork is excellent, his passing range the envy of a few outfield players." - Raphael Honigstein
Other articles:
-- ESPN FC Blogs: Germany
-- The countdown: Our Top 50 players of the World Cup
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