Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
Fans from around the CONCACAF region have the opportunity to vote for their Best XI for the year 2021 and there is no doubt that teams throughout the region were well-protected at the back last year, with superb showings from their goalkeepers throughout year.
Click here to vote in the 2021 CONCACAF Awards!
Here are the nominees for Best Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year:
Andre Blake pushed the Philadelphia Union to the semifinals of the 2021 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League (SCCL), making 18 saves in six matches. He also gave Jamaica stability during its FIFA World Cup campaign, with consecutive clean sheets in the October window and closed the MLS season with the second-most clean sheets (12).
Rodolfo Cota was the backbone of Club Leon, which continued its spot as a fixture in the SCCL by finishing runner-up in the Apertura, making 67 saves in 21 matches. Club Leon lifted silverware as well, with Cota starting the team’s three Leagues Cup games and lifting the trophy after a 3-2 win over the Seattle Sounders.
Milan Borjan helped push Canada to the top of FIFA World Cup qualification standings, playing nine FIFA World Cup qualification matches in 2021 and never tasting defeat or allowing more than one goal. He had five shutouts in that time and also suited up in four UEFA Champions League matches last year.
Sean Johnson helped push New York City FC to the MLS Cup and a spot in the SCCL, saving two penalties to win a shootout in the final against the Portland Timbers.
Had nine clean sheets in 2021.
Luis “Buba” Lopez found himself one of the most active goalkeepers in FIFA World Cup qualification but acquitted himself well, keeping a pair of shutouts. He also helped Los Catrachos to the knockout stages of the Gold Cup and made two saves in Honduras’ penalry shootout win over Costa Rica in the 2019-20 CONCACAF Nations League Finals Third-Place match.
Kevin Moscoso earned the honor of Best Goalkeeper in the Scotiabank CONCACAF League, aiding Comunicaciones of Guatemala with two clean sheets on the way to the club’s first CONCACAF crown since the 1978 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup.
Set a record for most saves in an SCL with 34.
Keylor Navas continued his superb form for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, making the UEFA Champions League semifinal and celebrating a Coupe de France, on top of 15 clean sheets and Ligue 1 Best GK honors for 2020-21. For Costa Rica, Navas has been critical in FIFA World Cup qualification. The only WCQ in which Costa Rica allowed more than one goal was the contest he left injured at halftime.
Guillermo Ochoa earned the Golden Glove as the best keeper in the 2021 SCCL (25 saves in 7 matches), pushing Club America into the final with Monterrey. He also helped El Tricolor into the final of the CONCACAF Nations League and won a Bronze Medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Matt Turner lifted a fair share of trophies in 2021, helping the U.S. to the Gold Cup title and winning the Supporters’ Shield with the New England Revolution, making 112 saves in 29 matches. He’s contending to be the U.S. No. 1 and his showings earned him an upcoming move to English club Arsenal after the Revs’ SCCL campaign this year.
Camilo Vargas was a standout for Atlas as the Rojinegros snapped their decades-long title drought and earned a place in the 2023 SCCL. He led Liga MX win clean sheets (12) and earned a start for Colombia in the 2021 Copa America, notching a win over Peru.
