Iker Casillas set the standard at home and abroad with Real Madrid and Spain for a generation. Here, we look back at his career accomplishments.
Real Madrid's youthful goalkeeping star at the turn of this century, Iker Casillas, spent 16 glittering seasons at the Santiago Bernabéu where he won five La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, four Supercopas de Espana, three Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and three Club World Cups.
A career swansong followed at Porto, where he plied his trade for a further four seasons from 2014-15 – winning the Primeira Liga in 2017-18.
Of course, Casillas is arguably best remembered for serving as the impeccable last line of defence as Spain claimed glory at Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Those were the fruits of a 1,048-game professional career. Here, we delve a little deeper into the remarkable numbers amassed by one of football's modern greats.
Casillas' reign in Spain
725 – Casillas is second on Real Madrid's all-time appearance roster, behind former team-mate Raul (741).
510 – His 510 La Liga outings are the seventh most in the history of the competition.
334 – Only Lionel Messi (354) has won more matches in Spain's top flight.
177 – Casillas has the third most clean sheets in LaLiga, behind Andoni Zubizarreta (235) and Paco Buyo (213). Zubizarreta and Buyo also lead the way in terms of games started by goalkeepers (622 and 542 to Casillas' 508) and minutes played (55,746 and 48,717 to 45,684).
King of the castle in Europe
177 – Casillas' number of Champions League appearances – coincidentally the same amount as his LaLiga clean sheets record – are the most in the competition.
101 – Cristiano Ronaldo is eight appearances behind Casillas on the all-time list and, with 106 wins, he is the only player to have tasted victory more often.
1 – His solitary substitute appearance in the Champions League came during the 2002 final, as a replacement for the injured Cesar Sanchez to help Madrid close out a 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park.
57 – Casillas' number of clean sheets lead the way in Europe's top competition, with Gianluigi Buffon (51) and Edwin van der Sar (50) the only others to have chalked up half a century.
3 – He is alongside Juan Alonso and Keylor Navas as a three-time winner while playing in goal for Real Madrid.
Spain's record run
167 – Casillas' cap record for Spain was recently passed by Sergio Ramos (170). Both share a joint-record of 17 appearances in World Cup finals.
0 – He did not concede a single goal in the final three matches of the triumphant Euro 2008, 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 campaigns, completing a hat-trick of quarter-final, semi-final and final clean sheets.
2 – The two goals he allowed in South Africa are the joint fewest let in by a World Cup-winning goalkeeper alongside Buffon in 2006 and Fabian Barthez in 1998. His five clean sheets matched the efforts of Buffon, Barthez and Brazil's triumphant 1994 goalkeeper Taffarel.
433 – Casillas' run of minutes without conceding a goal at the 2010 World Cup is a Spanish best.
2 – Republic of Ireland's Ian Harte in 2002 and Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo in 2010 had penalties saved by Casillas. Excluding shoot-outs, only Poland's Jan Tomaszewski and the United States' Brad Friedel have saved two penalties at World Cups.
runblops
0
He was the best
Alkalinho
0
Yes he don't concede any goal in those three finals but everytime when he face Barca he is ready to concede more than 5 goals .......m I right RM fan.......🔥🔥
lol
FlynnTalat
1
Yes he don't concede any goal in those three finals but everytime when he face Barca he is ready to concede more than 5 goals .......m I right RM fan.......🔥🔥
AbdulMuhmeen
1
legend indeed 👍
ayushkarki
0
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
and what about Liverpool beating Barca's a** at anfield [Crylaugh]
Harshit1
1
One The Only Real Madrid Goalkeeper Who won Heart's of Barcelona, everytime He played. Legend For a Reason.
ronnie_luv
1
the L in Iker Casillas stands for true LEGEND 🔥
Morry256
2
Casillas had the craziest unbelievable reflexes in world football...and to achieve what he did while being so short makes it all the more special
KINGSHIP1
0
A true legend... Iker Cassilas
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
1
ohhh i think you forget your match with bayern where you were thrashed 7:0 without scoring a single goal.
[Crylaugh][Crylaugh][Crylaugh]lol
ArindamGhosh
2
He will go down as one of the best Goalkeepers in the history of Football and Real Madrid .
TheRedDevils101
6
Yes, that is a good record by the legend, Iker Casillas Fernandez ⚪⚪
mudacdnrsz
1
No matter how legendary you are, there's always someone who is out there to kill your career, I felt very sorry for you, legendary Casillas
mudacdnrsz
1
Great achievements - Casillas
lokeshv497
1
We also trashed them 4 - 0 home and away that same year
ohhh i think you forget your match with bayern where you were thrashed 7:0 without scoring a single goal.
lokeshv497
0
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
also i have a fresh memory of so called best team with best players bottling 3:0 lead like kids.
Ameerul24
1
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
I remember barca bottle a 3 goal lead and lost to them at anfield 4-0
Nizalosy
1
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
And the same Liverpool beat you 4:0 at Anfield Barcelona fans after the match
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
0
@Rashnic/GOAT/CR7 yore a crybaby
lol... it's the truth dude
jesusishit
0
We also trashed them 4 - 0 home and away that same year
@Rashnic/GOAT/CR7 yore a crybaby
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
0
what about Liverpool beating u home and away 5:00
We also trashed them 4 - 0 home and away that same year
Blasebecker
0
You don't know anything about Real Madrid history kid
[image]
what about Liverpool beating u home and away 5:00
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
1
is a lie
You don't know anything about Real Madrid history kid
Blasebecker
0
How about Liv 0 - 3 Real at Anfield, 2014[Crylaugh]
is a lie
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
2
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
How about Liv 0 - 3 Real at Anfield, 2014[Crylaugh]
kaoaekmrty
1
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
Every goal keeper has weaknesses,Nobody is perfect 👌
Rashnic/GOAT/CR7
1
Legend of the game
Blasebecker
3
He is great but not great against Liverpool I remembered Liverpool against Real Madrid at Anfield 4:0
H_Ibrahim
1
Would have been considered d best of all time with his achievements until the last part of his career at Real.
yackson34
6
casillas the best goalkeeper ever I know some people will talk, but is true I talk I already said it come beat me in my house
DanRash10
7
Iker Casillas is not a goat but an Alien 👽🔥