Iker Casillas

Full name :Iker Casillas
Date of birth :May 20, 1981
Age: 29
Place of birth :Mostoles, Spain
Height :1.85m
Playing position : Goalkeeper

Captain of his country and a hero to millions of Madridistas, Casillas also has a strong claim to the title of the finest goalkeeper of his generation. The Real Madrid icon has won tournaments with his country at Under-15, U-17 and U-19 level, but his crowning glory was lifting the Euro 2008 trophy on behalf of his team-mates. Casillas first donned the number one shirt on a regular basis after Santiago Canizares was forced out of the 2002 World Cup squad, having smashed a bottle of aftershave on his foot, and he has been unchallenged ever since. Only Andoni Zubizarreta, with 126 appearances, has won more caps in goal for Spain.

Nicknamed San Iker ('Saint Iker') at Real Madrid, Casillas is a rare homegrown talent among a sea of galacticos having joined the club at the age of nine. He made his first-team debut under the current national coach, Vicente del Bosque, in the 1998-99 season and cemented his place the following year when becoming the youngest goalkeeper to appear in a Champions League final when beating Valencia just four days after his 19th birthday. A rare slump in form saw him dropped for the encounter with Bayer Leverkusen two years later but he appeared as a substitute in the second half in Glasgow and won the trophy for Real with a series of superb saves.

Casillas has been an established and respected member of the first XI ever since and has played a major role in Real's extensive success over the past decade - winning four La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues and the InterContinental Cup in 2002. A wonder-save against Sevilla in October only confirmed the suspicion that Casillas will go down in the history books as one of the finest goalkeepers in the history of the game.

He is in bullish mood ahead of a tournament that has the potential to see the Spanish team he leads with great pride confirm their reputation as one of the great international sides of the modern era.

"We have the perfect group going into this World Cup and the truth is we will fear no one," he says. "This team has already beaten so many of our big rivals in South Africa in England, Italy, Germany and Argentina, so we are going into the tournament believing we have a big chance. To be World and European champions at the same moment is a dream for all of us."

Strengths: As the last line of defence in a team that often pays scant regard to such an art, Casillas gets plenty of practice and frequently demonstrates his impressive reflexes, superb agility and innate ability to pull off a spectacular save. His forceful personality and will to win ensure he is a born leader.

Weaknesses: His aura of invincibility has been slightly dented in recent years due to a handful of mistakes and he can be slightly rash when rushing off his line.

Career high: Having lost his place in the Real side for the 2001-02 Champions League final, Casillas came on as a substitute for the injured Cesar Sanchez and pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart Bayer Leverkusen. He has never looked back.

Career low: A humbling experience at the Bernabeu last season when arch rivals Barcelona smashed six past Casillas in May in a game that effectively clinched the league title for the Catalans.

Style: Energetic, extravagant, commanding, a leader from the back.

Quotes: "Iker is the perfect captain. I'd give him ten out of ten for everything he does as a keeper, a captain and in the way he behaves. He sees everything so clearly. The whole squad deserve a ten but Casillas more than anyone. As the captain he's the one I speak to the most. He's a phenomenon." Luis Aragones, June 2008.

Trivia: Casillas is very superstitious and every time Real Madrid score a goal he has to touch his own crossbar.

Soccernet says: His claim to be regarded as one of the best goalkeeper in world football has suffered a touch but South Africa could be the perfect stage for Casillas to put his rivals in their place.