Iker Casillas
Goalkeeper · Real Madrid · Spain
About Iker Casillas
Iker Casillas is Spain's greatest goalkeeper and the captain of one of the most successful teams in football history. He won the World Cup, two European Championships, and three Champions Leagues — and was arguably the world's best goalkeeper between 2000 and 2012. His save against Arjen Robben in the 2010 World Cup final, diving to his right to deny a clean one-on-one, may be the most important save in football history.
Iker Casillas's story
Móstoles to Madrid
Casillas was born in Móstoles, a suburb of Madrid (ESP), and joined Real Madrid's academy aged 9. He made his Champions League debut aged 16, his La Liga debut aged 18, and became Madrid (ESP)'s first-choice goalkeeper at 19 after Bodo Illgner's knee injury. He held the position for 15 years — one of the longest tenures of any goalkeeper at a top European club.
Spain's Golden Era
Casillas captained Spain through their unprecedented period of dominance — Euro 2008, World Cup 2010, Euro 2012 — winning three major tournaments in four years. His performances were immaculate across all three: he conceded just six goals in total across the three tournaments. His save against Robben in the 2010 final is the defining moment.
Heart Attack and Retirement
In 2019, Casillas suffered a heart attack during Porto (POR) training. He recovered fully but never played again. He retired in 2020 and returned to Real Madrid in an ambassadorial role. His final years were complicated by a difficult public divorce from journalist Sara Carbonero, with whom he has two sons.
Did you know?
- 🧤 His save from Arjen Robben's clean one-on-one in the 2010 World Cup final — diving right to push it past the post — is widely considered the most important save in football history.
- 🏆 He won the World Cup, two European Championships, three Champions Leagues, and five La Liga titles — one of the most decorated players in football history.
- 👨👩👧👦 Married journalist Sara Carbonero in 2016; they have two sons: Martín and Lucas. They separated in 2021 but both have praised each other for their support through his heart attack in 2019.
- 👶 He made his Champions League debut aged 16 and his La Liga debut aged 18 — becoming Real Madrid's first-choice goalkeeper at just 19.
- 💔 In 2019 he suffered a heart attack during training at Porto. He recovered fully but never played competitive football again. The football world held its breath.
- 🤝 His relationship with Real Madrid legend Raúl González — both products of the academy, both captains, both legends — is one of the club's great sporting friendships.
- 😤 His final years at Real Madrid were strained by a public falling-out with coach José Mourinho, who controversially dropped him in favour of Diego López in 2013.
- 📊 He kept 402 career clean sheets — among the highest totals ever recorded for a professional goalkeeper across a sustained top-level career.
- 🌟 He won the IFFHS Best Goalkeeper award five consecutive times from 2008 to 2012 — during which he was universally considered the best keeper in the world.
Honours
- UEFA Champions League x3: Real Madrid (2000, 2002, 2014)
- La Liga x5: Real Madrid (2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012)
- FIFA World Cup: Spain (2010)
- UEFA Euro x2: Spain (2008, 2012)
- IFFHS World's Best GK x5: 2008-2012 consecutive
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