Every World Cup brings forth a new generation of superstar goalkeepers.

Goalkeepers deserve to be considered the iconic position of the World Cup. Every time the world's biggest football tournament takes place, the football world witnesses the brilliant performances of goalkeepers who were previously little known.

Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper Owais shone brightly against Uruguay - Photo: REUTERS

After the first five days of the 2026 World Cup , there have been three truly surprising results, with Qatar, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia all holding their much stronger opponents to draws. The common thread is the goalkeeper position.

Indeed, from Abunada of Qatar, Vozinha of Cape Verde to Al-Owais of Saudi Arabia, all have frustrated top strikers from Switzerland , Spain or Uruguay.

Of these, only Al-Owais is relatively well-known, having participated in a previous World Cup. In 2022, the Saudi Arabian goalkeeper shone in the victory against Argentina with 5 saves.

Meanwhile, Abunada and Vozinha were virtually unknown before. Vozinha herself was already in her 40s and facing the risk of unemployment in the near future.

But then they turned out to be the brightest stars of the World Cup so far.

Unknown goalkeepers, playing mediocrely at the club level, then shining brightly every four years when they enter the World Cup – this story seems to have become a "specialty" of the planet's number one football event.

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That's Guillermo Ochoa, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who has 152 caps for the Mexican national team. Ochoa has never played for a famous club in Europe, but the football world honors him as a World Cup legend for having participated in five previous tournaments (currently competing in his sixth World Cup).

"Ochoa only plays well once every four years," is how the football world jokingly refers to this experienced goalkeeper.

Besides Ochoa, there is also Fernando Muslera, who is participating in his 5th World Cup with the Uruguayan national team.

Muslera didn't have as many spectacular saves as Ochoa, but he was instrumental in leading Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, and consistently shone in subsequent World Cups.

Achievements and information on 3 goalkeepers currently shining at the 2026 World Cup - Graphic: H. DANG

Perhaps it was because of that outstanding performance that coach Marcelo Bielsa decided to take the risk of using Muslera instead of Rochet – who was in better form and younger – in the match against Saudi Arabia.

Unfortunately, at 40, Muslera is no longer the same as he used to be. He made a mistake that led to Uruguay conceding a goal.

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But that's okay; hardly anyone can blame these superstar goalkeepers who are over 40 and have been shining for two decades in World Cups.

Instead, fans enjoy the saves of a different group of unknown goalkeepers, and then search for information about them.

Although football is a team game, watching Vozinha and Al-Owais stand firm and bravely in the face of relentless attacks from their opponents feels like watching a warrior movie.

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HUY DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cu-den-world-cup-cac-sieu-thu-mon-lai-xuat-appear-2026061607205005.htm