The last time a goalkeeper won the prestigious Ballon d'Or award was when Lev Yashin won it in 1963. Since then, only Oliver Kahn has come close to being crowned the world's best — in 2002 when he finished runner-up in the FIFA World Player of the Year list.


Manuel Neuer 

This year, Manuel Neuer's inclusion in the three-man shortlist, alongside Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, for the FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy has raised hopes that a goalkeeper finally gets crowned the world's best player after 51 years.