Germany's Manuel Neuer wins Golden Glove as World Cup's top goalkeeper

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer backstopped his nation to its fourth World Cup, and he has some individual hardware to boast as well. Lionel Messi wins Golden

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer backstopped his nation to its fourth World Cup, and he has some individual hardware to boast as well. 

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​Neuer was awarded the Golden Glove as the World Cup's best goalkeeper, beating his Argentine World Cup final counterpart Sergio Romero and Costa Rica's Keylor Navas for the award. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, USA's Tim Howard and Nigeria's Vincent Enyeama were among the other goalkeeper standouts who fell short of the final shortlist for the award. 

Neuer, acting as a sweeper keeper who comfortably ventured out of his area and even took a throw-in late in Germany's 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in Sunday's final, conceded just four times in Brazil while providing a safety valve for his defenders.

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The 28-year-old Bayern Munich standout, who had to make only one save in the final, was given the honor by FIFA's Technical Study Group. He was involved in a talking-point moment during the final, though, when he raced to the edge of his area and collided hard with Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain while punching away the ball. Higuain was whistled for a foul on the play.