World Cup GK Profile: Óscar Pérez (Mexico)

Óscar Pérez

Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 36
Birth Date: Feb 1, 1973
Birth Place: Mexico City, Mexico
Height: 5' 9" (1.74m)
Weight: 159 lbs (72 kg)
Club: Jaguares (MEX)
International Caps: 52

Club History
Jaguares (MEX): 2009-
Tigres (MEX): 2008-2009
Cruz Azul (MEX): 1993-2008



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Óscar "El Conejo" Pérez Rojas is a Mexican football goalkeeper who formerly played for the Mexican team, Cruz Azul .

He was capped 46 times for the Mexican national team between 1997 and 2005. He played four games at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and was selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup but never played. He has been the starting goalkeeper for Cruz Azul since 1997 when they won the championship in the 1997 Winter Season. More Recently he has been awarded for staying at the club for 400 appearances, making it a record. But now he has moved to UANL Tigres and has now been the starter of 4 games in the Apertura 2008. After spending 1 year at Monterrey, now he moved to Jaguares de Chiapas.

Oscar was noted to be the best goalkeeper in Mexico from the years of 1998 to early 2002. Once Javier Aguirre left the Mexican team, Ricardo Lavolpe became coach, and Oswaldo Sanchez took over his spot. For the world cup 2010 Perez was called up again following several impressive showings in friendlies leading up to the competition.

2010 World Cup Goalkeepers - By The Numbers: Size

2.82

The largest goalkeeper at the World Cup is Australia's Mark Schwarzer.   At 6' 5" and 217 pounds, Schwarzer carries 2.82 pounds for every inch of height.  The 37 year old "socceroo" recently helped Fulham reach the Europa League final and has been linked to a possible transfer to Arsenal.

Next on the height-to-weight ratio list is Tim Howard (USA/Everton) at 2.80 pounds per inch. 

74

The average and median height of the goalkeeping pool at the 2010 World Cup is 6' 2" (74 inches).

6

6 of the 32 projected starters at the goalkeeping position are under 6 feet tall.   This group includes Lee Woon-Jae (South Korea), Justo Villar (Paraguay), Vincent Enyeama (Nigeria), Boubacar Barry (Ivory Coast), Khune Itumeleng (South Africa), and Noel Valladeres (Honduras).

6' 6"

At 6' 6" (78 inches), the tallest starting goalkeeper at the 2010 World Cup is 36 year old Konstantinos Chalkias of Greece.

5' 10"

At 5' 10" (70 inches), the shortest starting goalkeeper at the 2010 World Cup is 33 year old Noel Valladeres of Honduras.  Noel's idol was former Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos, who was extremely short by current international standards at (5' 6" or 65 inches).   Valladares shares another notable trait with Campos in that they are both very skilled with the ball at their feet.   Both men began their careers playing striker.

UPDATE:  5' 9"
With Perez making the start over Ochoa in the first match vs. South Africa, Oscar Perez of Mexico is the shortest starting goalkeeper at 5' 9".

2.169

The smallest goalkeeper at the World Cup is the Ivory Coast's Boubacar Barry.   His 5' 11" and 154 pound frame calculates as 2.169 per inch of height. 

Country	Goalkeeper	Age	Height	Weight	lbs/inch
Australia	Mark Schwarzer	37	6' 05"	217	2.82
USA	Tim Howard	31	6' 03"	210	2.80
Italy	Gianluigi Buffon	32	6' 03"	205	2.73
Ghana	Richard Kingson	31	6' 00"	192	2.67
Cameroon	Carlos Kameni	26	6' 01"	190	2.60
England	David James	39	6' 05"	200	2.60
Slovakia	Jan Mucha	27	6' 02"	192	2.59
Denmark	Thomas Sorensen	33	6' 04"	196	2.58
Chile	Caudio Bravo	27	6' 00"	185	2.57
New.Zealand	Mark Paston	33	6' 05"	198	2.57
Spain	Iker Casillas	29	6' 01"	187	2.56
S.Korea	Lee Woon-Jae	37	5' 11"	181	2.55
Slovenia	Samir Handanovic	25	6' 05"	194	2.52
Honduras	Noel Valladares	33	5' 10"	176	2.51
Algeria	Lounes Gaouaoui	32	6' 02"	185	2.50
Portugal	Eduardo	27	6' 02"	185	2.50
S.Africa	Khune Itumeleng	22	5' 11"	176	2.48
Nigeria	Vincent Enyeama	27	5' 11"	174	2.45
Paraguay	Justo Villar	32	5' 11"	174	2.45
Netherlands	Maarten Stekelenburg	27	6' 04"	185	2.43
Serbia	Vladimir Stojkovic	26	6' 05"	187	2.43
Argentina	Sergio Romero	23	6' 04"	183	2.41
Switzerland	Diego Benaglio	26	6' 04"	183	2.41
Brazil	Julio Cesar	30	6' 01"	174	2.38
Germany	Manuel Neuer	24	6' 03"	176	2.35
N.Korea	Ri Myong-Guk	23	6' 02"	174	2.35
Greece	Konstantinos Chalkias	36	6' 06"	181	2.32
Japan	Seigo Narazaki	34	6' 02"	168	2.27
Mexico	Guillermo Ochoa	24	6' 00"	159	2.21
France	Hugo Lloris	23	6' 02"	161	2.18
Uruguay	Fernando Muslera	23	6' 03"	163	2.173
Ivory.Coast	Boubacar Barry	30	5' 11"	154	2.169

Mark Schwarzer's World Cup Destiny: From Sydney to Stuttgart

2010 World Cup Goalkeepers - By The Numbers: Age & Experience

22
The age of the youngest starting goalkeeper in the 2010 World Cup.  South Africa's Khune Itumeleng is 22 years old.   Itumeleng has 26 caps under his belt, more than Sergio Romero (Argentina), Hugo Lloris (France), and Fernando Muslera (Uruguay) combined.   Romero, Lloris, and Muslera are all 23 years old and have combined for a total of 22 international appearances.

39
David James (England) is the oldest projected starter at 39 years old.   Unfortunately, James may not get to start in the 2010 World Cup as a minor knee injury has sidelined the Portsmouth keeper.  This may force Fabio Capello to place the 30 year old Robert Green between the sticks.   Green has only 10 international appearances while James has recorded 50 international appearances.  England players reportedly want manager Fabio Capello to name David James as his first choice goalkeeper during the 2010 World Cup.

130
South Korea's Lee Woon-Jae is the most capped goalkeeper starting in the 2010 World Cup.  The 37 year old Woon-Jae has accumulated 130 caps since the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.    Lee will be one of two players (other being Rigobert Song of Cameroon) to be part of a 2010 World Cup squad that also played in 1994 World Cup.

5

The German squad had always had a history of carrying experienced goalkeepers into the World Cup (Schumacher, Kahn, Meier).  2010 will be different as the 24 year old Manuel Neuer, with only 5 senior international appearances, will assume the starting goalkeeping role for a program that has finished 4th place or better in 11 of 16 World Cups (Germany was banned from 1950 and withdrew from 1930).  

Neuer's 5 caps may be the least of the starting World Cup goalkeepers, but he is the most capped GK on the German squad over Hans-Jörg Butt (3), and Tim Wiese (2).  

The probable choice as the German No. 1 prior to 2010, Robert Enke, committed suicide in 2009 while battling depression.

Roster of Projected Starting Goalkeepers for 2010 World Cup

With the first game of the World Cup just days away, GKGrades.com has compiled a list of probable starting goalkeepers for each of the participating countries.

There are still a few starting jobs in limbo...

• Mexico has yet to make a decision between the young Ochoa and veteran Sanchez.... 
• England may move to favor Robert Green if David James cannot begin to practice with his tweaked knee...
• The Ghana skipper has not yet proclaimed Kingson as the definitive No. 1 after a few disappointing warm-up friendlies...

Click on the GK name for a full profile...

Country	No.	Goalkeeper	Age	Caps
Algeria	1	Lounes Gaouaoui	32	48
Argentina	22	Sergio Romero	23	6
Australia	1	Mark Schwarzer	37	74
Brazil	12	Julio Cesar	30	48
Cameroon	1	Carlos Kameni	26	55
Chile	1	Caudio Bravo	27	43
Denmark	1	Thomas Sorensen	33	86
England	1	David James	39	50
France	1	Hugo Lloris	23	10
Germany	1	Manuel Neuer	24	5
Ghana	22	Richard Kingson	31	78
Greece	1	Konstantinos Chalkias	36	26
Honduras	18	Noel Valladares	33	72
Italy	1	Gianluigi Buffon	32	101
Ivory.Coast	1	Boubacar Barry	30	45
Japan	1	Seigo Narazaki	34	76
Mexico	13	Guillermo Ochoa	24	37
Netherlands	1	Maarten Stekelenburg	27	27
New.Zealand	1	Mark Paston	33	23
Nigeria	1	Vincent Enyeama	27	54
North.Korea	1	Ri Myong-Guk	23	33
Paraguay	1	Justo Villar	32	73
Portugal	1	Eduardo	27	14
Serbia	1	Vladimir Stojkovic	26	33
Slovakia	1	Jan Mucha	27	15
Slovenia	22	Samir Handanovic	25	38
S.Africa	16	Khune Itumeleng	22	26
S.Korea	1	Lee Woon-Jae	37	130
Spain	1	Iker Casillas	29	103
Switzerland	1	Diego Benaglio	26	27
Uruguay	1	Fernando Muslera	23	6
USA	1	Tim Howard	31	50

World Cup GK Profile: Diego Benaglio (Switzerland)

Diego Benaglio

Squad: Switzerland
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 26
Birth Date: Sep 8, 1983
Birth Place: Zurich, Switzerland
Height: 6' 4" (1.93m)
Weight: 183 lbs (83 kg)
Club: Wolfsburg (GER)
International Caps: 27

Club History
Wolfsburg (GER): 2008-
CD Nacional (POR): 2005-2008
VfB Stuttgart (GER): 2002-2005
Grasshoppers (SUI): 2000-2002



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
A Swiss international since 2006, Benaglio was called-up for the 2006 World Cup as third-choice behind Pascal Zuberbühler and Fabio Coltorti.

With consistently good performances in 2008, he was promoted to the starting line-up for Euro 2008, played on home soil. He has since retained his position as Switzerland's number 1 goalkeeper.

World Cup GK Profile: Iker Casillas (Spain)

Iker Casillas

Squad: Spain
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 29
Birth Date: May 20, 1981
Birth Place: Mostoles, Spain
Height: 6' 1'' (1.85m)
Weight: 187 lbs (85 kg)
Club: Real Madrid (Spain)
International Caps: 103

Club History
Real Madrid (ESP): 2000-
Real Madrid B (ESP): 1999-1999
Real Madrid (ESP): 1999-1999
Real Madrid C (ESP): 1998-1999
Real Madrid (ESP): 1997-1998



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Iker Casillas Fernández Spanish pronunciation: ['iker ka'si?as]; is a Spanish football goalkeeper who plays for the Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and serves as captain for the Spanish national team. He is currently first-choice goalkeeper for both club and country and serves as a vice captain for his club. As captain of the national side, he led a young Spanish team to their first European Championship in 44 years, his first senior international honour.

Since bursting onto the scene as a teenager, Casillas has been recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, illustrated by the many awards he has received. He was ranked 4th in the 2008 European Footballer of the Year voting, and also the highest ranked goalkeeper in 2009. At the end of 2009 he was voted into the UEFA Team of the Year for the third consecutive time.

World Cup GK Profile: Noel Valladares (Honduras)

Noel Valladares

Squad: Honduras
Squad No: 18
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 33
Birth Date: May 3, 1977
Birth Place: Comayagua, Honduras
Height: 5' 10" (1.79m)
Weight: 176 lbs (80 kg)
Club: Olimpia Tegucigalpa (HON)
International Caps: 72

Club History
Olimpia Tegucigalpa (HON): 2004-
Motagua (HON): 1996-2004



from Wikipedia (full wiki)

Noel Eduardo Valladares Bonilla is a Honduran football goalkeeper, who currently plays for Club Deportivo Olimpia. He was born in Comayagua.

He was a member of the national squad at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Prior to that experience he played as goalkeeper and forward for Honduras at the 1999 PanAmerican games in Winnipeg. He played as a striker for several seasons at Motagua.

He is very important to the Honduran national squad. He has made 70 appearances for the team and will participate in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.

World Cup GK Profile: Claudio Bravo (Chile)

Claudio Bravo

Squad: Chile
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Birth Date: Apr 13, 1983
Birth Place: Viluco, Chile
Height: 6' 0" (1.83m)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Club: Real Sociedad (Spain)
International Caps: 43

Club History
Real Sociedad (ESP): 2006-
Colo Colo (CHI): From 2002 to 2006



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Bravo represented Chile at U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels. He made his debut with the main side on July 11, 2004 against Paraguay, in the 2004 Copa América, and retained his place for the rest of the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.

Bravo was again called for duty in the 2007 Copa América, held in Venezuela, where he started all four games. He became national side captain after Marcelo Salas announced his international retirement.

World Cup GK Profile: Eduardo (Portugal)

Eduardo

Full Name: Eduardo dos Reis Carvalho
Squad: Portugal
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Birth Date: Sep 19, 1982
Birth Place: Mirandela, Portugal
Height: 6' 2" (1.87m)
Weight: 185 lbs (84 kg)
Club: Braga (POR)
International Caps: 14

Club History
Braga (POR): 2008-
Vitória Setúbal (POR): 2007-2008
SC Beira-Mar (POR): 2007-2007
Sporting Braga (POR): 2003-2006



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
After UEFA Euro 2008, Eduardo was called for new national team coach Carlos Queiroz for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Denmark, where he played understudy to Quim.

He made his full debut on 11 February 2009, in a friendly match with Finland, playing the first 60 minutes in a 1–0 home win, and remained the starter throughout the remainder of the qualifying campaign.

World Cup GK Profile: Ri Myong-Guk (North Korea)

Ri Myong-Guk

Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 23
Birth Date: Sep 9, 1986
Birth Place: Pyongyang, North Korea
Height: 6' 2" (1.87m)
Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg)
Club: Pyongyang City (North Korea)
International Caps: 33

Club History
Pyongyang City (PRK)



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Ri Myong-Guk is a North Korean international football player. He plays for Pyongyang City in the DPR Korea League.

He played 15 matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying for Korea DPR, including keeping a clean sheet in the decisive final group game against Saudi Arabia. After the match, he stated "I felt like I was defending the gateway to my motherland". His performances also saw him nominated for the 2009 Asian Footballer of the Year award.

He will most likely be goalkeeper at the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

World Cup GK Profile: Boubacar Barry (Ivory Coast)

Boubacar Barry

Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 30
Birth Date: Dec 30, 1979
Birth Place: Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height: 5' 11" (1.80m)
Weight: 154 lbs (70 kg)
Club: Lokeren (BEL)
International Caps: 45

Club History
Lokeren (BEL): 2007-
Beveren (BEL): 2003-2007
Rennes (FRA): 2000-2003
ASEC Mimosas (CIV): 1999-2000



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Boubacar "Copa" Barry (born 30 December 1979) is a Ivorian footballer who plays for Lokeren and the Ivoirian national team as a goalkeeper. He has played for Lokeren since July 2007.

In Belgium, he plays under the football name of "Copa", however, in the national team of the Ivory Coast, his football name is his regular name.

He has 45 caps for the national team entering the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and was called up to the 2006 World Cup. He appeared in the final group match against Serbia and Montenegro in 22 June 2006, which Côte d'Ivoire won 3-2.

World Cup GK Profile: Julio César (Brazil)

Julio César

Squad: Brazil
Squad No: 12
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 30
Birth Date: Sep 3, 1979
Birth Place: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height: 6' 1" (1.85m)
Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg)
Club: Inter Milan (Italy)
International Caps: 48

Club History
Inter Milan (ITA): 2006-
Chievo (ITA): 2005-2005
Flamengo (BRA): 1997-2004





from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Júlio César Soares de Espíndola, commonly known as simply Júlio César, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Internazionale of the Italian Serie A. He is also currently the first-choice goalkeeper for the Brazilian national team, having won 47 international caps.

In 2009, IFFHS named him as the third best goalkeeper in the world, behind only the Spanish Iker Casillas and the Italian Gianluigi Buffon. He was also awarded the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year title in 2009, ahead of Buffon of Juventus and Federico Marchetti of Cagliari. He was nominated for the 2009 Ballon d'Or and was voted into 21st place; Casillas was the only other goalkeeper nominated.

Júlio César's international career began in 2003, when he was often called up as a backup to Dida. He was also included in Brazil team for the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, but did not play. His first international appearance came during the Copa América 2004. He played in all six matches in the tournament as first-choice goalkeeper, as Dida chose to sit out the tournament. In the final match against Argentina, which went on to be decided by penalty shootout, Júlio César blocked Argentina's first penalty kick and Brazil went on to win 4–2.
However, Júlio still was the backup goalkeeper for Brazil for the next three years, earning only seven caps in the period. He was left out of Brazil team for 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup and Copa América 2007, but was included in 2006 FIFA World Cup squad as third-choice goalkeeper behind Dida and veteran Rogério Ceni.

After the World Cup and the international retirement of Dida, the competition to become Brazil's new first-choice goalkeeper began. He initially was out of favour, as new coach Dunga preferred Heurelho Gomes of Tottenham Hotspur, Helton of FC Porto, and Doni of Roma ahead of him. He forced his way into the team, however, and finally replaced Doni as first-choice goalkeeper in September 2007.

World Cup GK Profile: Ján Mucha (Slovakia)

Ján Mucha

Squad: Slovakia
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 27
Birth Date: Dec 5, 1982
Birth Place: Bela nad Cirochou, Czechoslovakia
Height: 6' 2" (1.89m)
Weight: 192 lbs (87 kg)
Club: Legia Warsaw (POL)
International Caps: 15

Club History
Legia Warszawa (POL): 2005-2010
HFC Humenné (SVK): 2005-2005
MSK Zilina (SVK): 2002-2004



from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Ján Mucha started his career in his local club TJ Slovan Belá nad Cirochou. Then he moved to MŠK Snina, and later to Inter Bratislava. He spent there 2 seasons in A-team, but he didn't play in any match. He moved to MŠK Žilina in summer 2002. He won the Slovak championship there twice. In 2005, he was sent on a half-year loan to 1. HFC Humenné.

He signed for Legia Warszawa in Poland in summer 2005. In the 2005–06 season he was second-choice goalkeeper, behind Lukasz Fabianski. Fabianski moved to Arsenal in 2007, and Mucha became first-choice 'keeper. With Legia he has won the 2007–08 Polish Cup and the Polish Supercup in 2008. In January 2010 Mucha signed a pre-contract deal with English club Everton to join on 1 July the same year.

Mucha made his debut for Slovakia in February 2008, in a friendly match against Hungary.

World Cup GK Profile: Justo Villar (Paraguay)

Justo Villar

Squad: Paraguay
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 32
Birth Date: Jun 30, 1977
Birth Place: Cerrito, Paraguay
Height: 5' 11" (1.80m)
Weight: 174 lbs (79 kg)
Club: Valladolid (Spain)
International Caps: 73

Club History
Valladolid (ESP): 2008-
Newell's Old Boys (ARG): 2004-2008
Libertad (PAR): 2001-2004
Sol de America (PAR): 1996-2000

from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Villar represented Paraguay at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, and received his first full cap two years later.

Having been selected for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, backing up legendary José Luis Chilavert, he was already a starter in the 2006 edition, but had a brief participation: during the first seven minutes of the opener against England, just after Carlos Gamarra's own goal, Villar got injured, was replaced by Aldo Bobadilla, and subsequently was sidelined for the rest of the tournament, in which Paraguay was eliminated in the first round.

Additionally, Villar also appeared in three Copa América tournaments.

World Cup GK Profile: Mark Paston (New Zealand)

Mark Paston

Squad: New Zealand
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 33
Birth Date: Dec 13, 1976
Birth Place: Hastings, New Zealand
Height: 6' 5" (1.95m)
Weight: 198 lbs (90 kg)
Club: Wellington Phoenix (NZL)
International Caps: 23

Club History
Wellington Phoenix (NZL): 2007-
New Zealand Knights FC (NZL): 2006-2007
St. Johnstone (SCO): 2005-2006
Walsall (ENG): 2004-2005
Bradford City (ENG): 2003-2004
Napier City Rovers (NZL): 1997-2003




from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Paston, having represented New Zealand at Under-23 level, made his full All Whites debut at the age of 20 in a 5–0 loss to Indonesia on 21 September 1997, but did not feature in another full international until 2003, Jason Batty, Michael Utting and later Ross Nicholson being preferred choices. Since returning to the international side in 2003, Paston has competed with former Wellington Phoenix team-mate Glen Moss for the goalkeeper position.

He was named as part of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup New Zealand squad to travel to South Africa, where he was second choice as Moss played in all three games. However, Moss's suspension from international football for improper conduct meant that Paston played in the World Cup Qualification playoff against Bahrain. On 10 October 2009 Paston kept a clean sheet in the first leg in Riffa, and in the return leg on 14 November 2009 he was Man of the Match, saving a penalty from Sayed Mohamed Adnan in the 51st minute which was enough to secure New Zealand a 1-0 win in Wellington, enabling them to qualify for the World Cup for only the second time in their history. Paston's fractured leg had threatened to harm his World Cup chances, but the goalkeeper has since made a good recovery and has been named in New Zealand's training squad for the tournament. With Moss's suspension running into the first two games of the World Cup, Paston, if fit, is expected to play as Ricki Herbert's first-choice goalkeeper.

On 10 May 2010, Paston was named in New Zealand's final 23-man squad to compete at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

World Cup GK Profile: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)

Gianluigi Buffon

Squad: Italy
Squad No: 1
Position: Goalkeeper
Age: 32
Birth Date: Jan 28, 1978
Birth Place: Carrara
Height: 6' 3'' (1.91m)
Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
Club: Juventus (Italy)
International Caps: 101

Club History
Juventus (ITA): 2001-
Parma (ITA): 1994-2001




from Wikipedia (full wiki)
Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon is an Italian FIFA World Cup, UEFA Cup, and Serie A winning goalkeeper who plays for Serie A club Juventus and the Italian national team. He is considered by many fans and experts to be one of most dominant and successful goalkeepers in recent history. Buffon was declared by Pelé to be one of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world, and has also been named the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year a record nine times.

Buffon was awarded his first cap for Italy on 29 October 1997, at the age of nineteen, as an injury replacement for Gianluca Pagliuca during a qualifer for 1998 FIFA World Cup play-off against Russia. He was called up for the 1998 World Cup finals, but did not play a single game as Pagliuca remained first choice. He was a member of the Italy squad at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. Buffon was also the first choice goalkeeper for Italy at the Euro 2000, but broke his hand in a friendly match against Norway just eight days before the tournament started, and had his starting place taken by Francesco Toldo.

During the 2006 World Cup finals, Buffon was in stunning form, as he conceded just two goals and kept five clean sheets, in addition to a 453-minute scoreless streak. The only goals he conceded were an own goal by teammate Cristian Zaccardo against the United States and a Zinedine Zidane penalty in the final against France, which ended 1–1 in extra-time and led to a penalty shootout in which neither Buffon nor Fabien Barthez saved a spot kick. The lone miss was David Trezeguet's effort which clanged off the bottom of the crossbar and failed to cross the line, which enabled Italy's Fabio Grosso to seal the victory for the Azzuri. Buffon received the Yashin Award for his accomplishments throughout the competition.

Buffon was named Italy captain for Euro 2008 after incumbent Fabio Cannavaro was ruled out of the tournament due to injury. In the second game of the group stage against Romania on 13 June, he saved an 81st minute penalty from Adrian Mutu as the match ended 1–1 to keep Italy's hopes alive. Buffon kept a clean sheet against France in the final group game. Italy were eliminated in the quarter-finals nine days later after a 4-2 penalty shootout loss to Spain in which Buffon saved one penalty.