World Cup Golden Glove: The History of the Best Goalkeeper Award
The World Cup Golden Glove is the award FIFA presents to the best goalkeeper at each World Cup finals. Introduced in 1994, it was originally called the Lev Yashin Award and was renamed the Golden Glove in 2010. This guide walks through the award’s origins, its winners and what it means.
An Award Named After Yashin
The Golden Glove is reserved for the standout goalkeeper of the tournament, named after the Soviet legend Lev Yashin — widely regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in history and the only one ever to win the Ballon d’Or. The winner is chosen by FIFA’s Technical Study Group, weighing a keeper’s saves, consistency and contribution across the whole event. It sits alongside the Golden Boot for the top scorer and the Golden Ball for the best player in the World Cup’s individual honours.
Every Golden Glove Winner
Since its creation in 1994, eight goalkeepers have lifted the award: Michel Preud’homme of Belgium in 1994, Fabien Barthez of France in 1998, Oliver Kahn of Germany in 2002, Gianluigi Buffon of Italy in 2006, Iker Casillas of Spain in 2010, Manuel Neuer of Germany in 2014, Thibaut Courtois of Belgium in 2018 and Emiliano Martínez of Argentina in 2022. Germany and Belgium are the only nations with two winners each.
Kahn’s Unique Feat
At the 2002 World Cup, Germany’s Oliver Kahn won not only the Golden Glove but also the tournament’s Golden Ball — the only time a goalkeeper has claimed both at a World Cup. Although Germany lost the final to Brazil, Kahn’s displays remain a benchmark for the position. No goalkeeper has ever won the Golden Glove twice.
The Weight of the Honour
Of the eight winners, seven are European; Martínez in 2022 is the only non-European. The award often tracks a team’s deep run: both Casillas and Martínez lifted the Golden Glove in the same year they helped their country win the title. Understanding this honour helps fans appreciate just how much a goalkeeper can shape a side’s fortunes.
FAQ
Who is the Golden Glove named after? Soviet legend Lev Yashin; the award was first called the Yashin Award and renamed the Golden Glove in 2010.
Has any goalkeeper won it twice? No. No keeper has won the Golden Glove more than once since it began in 1994.
What did Oliver Kahn achieve in 2002? He won both the Golden Ball and the Golden Glove, the only goalkeeper to claim both at a World Cup.
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