36 years after his death, Lev Yashin is still widely considered by dozens of experts to be the best goalkeeper throughout the history of football, because the Soviet, born in the city of Moscowis the only one goalkeeper who has managed to get the Ballon d’Orthe award that designates the best footballer of each year.
Lev Yashin was the first goalkeeper to use gloves and knee padselements that were not used at that time by archers. Furthermore, since he did not like to stay in his area, the Soviet led his defense and went out to cut the game, so he participated as a advocate more and even organized plays more offensive.
According to what was stated by the prestigious magazine France FootballLev Yashin was a complete goalkeeper, of great stature (1.89 meters), very agile and safe under the goal, which is why he was able to win 5 titles of the soviet first division and three Soviet Union Cups with the Dynamo Moscowa club in which he played his entire sporting career.
However, Lev Yashin’s best performances were with the national team of the Soviet Unionwith which he was champion in the Olympics of Melbourne in 1956 and in the Euro Cup in 1960where they defeated the combined Yugoslavia on both occasions and obtained numerous awards and recognitions internationally.
The Black Spider that changed the goal
Yashin was awarded the Olympic Order by the International Olympic Committee, elected on best goalkeeper of the 20th century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), goalkeeper of the 20th century by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and included in the dream team of all world.
Given the circumstances, on December 14, 2019, the Ballon d’Or for goalkeepers was created in his honor, under the name Lev Yashin Trophywhich has been won by other legends of international goalkeeping: the Argentine Emiliano Martinezthe Italian Gianluigi Donnarummathe Brazilian Alisson Becker and the Belgian Thibaut Courtois.
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According to the digital platform specialized in sports, OneFootballLev Yashin transformed the goal into artsince he was not simply an exceptional goalkeeper, but the architect of the modern goalkeeper, to the point of influencing other myths of the goal, such as the Italian Gianluigi Buffonthe Spanish Iker Boxes and the German Manuel Neuer.
Lev changed the goalkeeper position forever because he didn’t just wait for the shot: he came out of the goal, cut centersorganized the defense and used the area as his personal domain, which is why he revolutionized the time with his bold style and his clothing completely darkwhich earned him the nickname of the Black Spider.
An unprecedented recognition
According to the American television network cnnhe impact of Lev Yashin was recognized before his retirement as a footballer in 1971since he was awarded the Order of Leninthe highest possible distinction in the Soviet Union, as a testimony to the immense pride that generated his figure as ambassador.
His memory only grew after hanging up his gloves and his name was immortalized with a statue next to the new Dynamo Moscow stadium, the team to which he dedicated his entire sporting career: “Yashin’s legacy persists because he was the man who dared to change everything in the goal”, concluded the former Brazilian goalkeeper Mark.
