Buffon named as world's best goalkeeper of 2016

The 38-year-old shot-stopper has finished 20th in this year's Goal 50, ahead of the likes of Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak and David de Gea

Juventus and Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon is the highest-ranked goalkeeper in the 2016 Goal 50.

The world's most expensive No.1 turned 38 in January but he still managed to finish in 20th place, above fellow shot-stoppers Jan Oblak, Manuel Neuer and David de Gea.

Buffon's lofty position is wholly unsurprising, with the former Parma starlet having re-established himself as the game's greatest goalkeeper over the past 12 months.

Indeed, the Carrara native played a huge role in Juve winning a second consecutive league-and-cup double, making history earlier this year by going 973 minutes without conceding a goal in Serie A - thus breaking Sebastiano Rossi's 22-year record.

In May, meanwhile, Atletico Madrid ace Oblak equalled a record that had stood since 1994 by being beaten just 18 times during a single Liga season, a feat that also earned the Slovenian the Ricardo Zamora Trophy.

The 23-year-old, who ranked 29th in the 2016 Goal 50, also saved a crucial penalty from Thomas Muller during the Rojiblancos' run to the Champions League final.

Manuel Neuer finished just four places behind Oblak in 33rd, after helping Germany reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016 by edging his penalty shootout battle with Buffon in France.

The Bayern Munich star also shone during his club's double-winning campaign and while David de Gea didn't get his hands on any major titles this year, he once again turned in a string of sensational performances for Spain and, in particular, Manchester United.