Philipp Lahm lauds Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer as ‘once-in-a-century goalkeeper’

(GERMANY OUT) Fussball 1. Bundesliga Saison 2015/2016 29. Spieltag VfB Stuttgart - FC Bayern Muenchen Torwart Manuel Neuer (li, FC Bayern Muenchen) und Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern Muenchen) mit Dank an die Fans nach dem Spiel (Photo by Pressefoto Ulmerullstein bild via Getty Images) | ullstein bild via Getty Images His futrue still hangs in the balance.

Will Manuel Neuer decide to stay at Bayern Munich for another year, or will his storied chapter with the German Rekordmeister finally come to an end after this season? Either way, whether he leaves this summer or at some point in the future, the legacy he’ll leave behind is absolutely immense. Neuer’s trophy cabinet for club and country with Bayern and the German national team is unlike any other.

A World Cup title, 12 Bundesliga titles with one more expected this season, 2 Champions League titles, 6 DFB-Pokals, multiple DFL Supercups, 2 Fifa Club World Cups, and 2 UEFA Supercups. While it’s not n officially recognized term in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, there’s good reason why Neuer has been dubbed the GOATkeeper of our generation. He’s right up there with the best keepers the world has ever seen and boldly his own type of player between the sticks.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, former Bayern and Germany teammate Philipp Lahm offered his admiration and approbation for who he described as a “once-in-a-century” goalkeeper. “Neuer is a once-in-a-century goalkeeper, blessed with all the talents and attributes required for his position,” Lahm enthused (via @iMiaSanMia ). “He ranks among the very greatest in football history, alongside Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, and he really should have won the Ballon d’Or at some point.