‘This World Cup simply belongs to the goalkeepers’: Subrata Paul

The brilliance of attacking superstars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane will undoubtedly define this FIFA World Cup, but former India captain Subrata Paul believes the true narrative belongs to the tournament’s shot-stoppers.

Paul, a legendary goalkeeper whose storied two-decade career included 84 senior international appearances and critical roles in India’s 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup triumphs, asserts that the teams navigating the business end of the competition owe their survival to extraordinary, match-defining goalkeeping.

"This World Cup simply belongs to the goalkeepers. I feel goalkeepers are playing a major role in winning matches, securing clean sheets, and keeping the scores level. This World Cup overall is one of the most exciting in recent years. I wish some goalkeeper (also) wins the Golden Ball (along with the Golden Glove)," Paul, fondly known as the 'Indian Spiderman', told PTI.

While the Golden Glove honors the tournament's best goalkeeper and the Golden Ball recognizes the best overall player, Paul emphasizes that the impact of modern custodians cannot be understated.

"This World Cup everyone is talking about goalkeepers...they have made several crucial saves. All the teams doing well -- France, Spain, England, Argentina -- have outstanding goalkeepers. There is a saying in football: 'a striker wins the match, but a goalie wins the championship'," said Paul.

When discussing the tournament’s standout performers, Paul praised established stars and record-breakers.

Also read: Cristiano Ronaldo gifts IShowSpeed game-worn World Cup boots; streamer's reaction goes viral | WATCH

"(Spain's) Unai Simon who set a record for most consecutive matches without conceding a goal. Argentina's (Emiliano) Martinez and Belgian Thibaut Courtois are also proven performers. Also, I think Diogo Costa did well for Portugal although they are out of the competition," he noted.

However, the former skipper reserved his highest praise for a breakout underdog: Cape Verde’s veteran custodian, Vozinha.

"For me the most outstanding goalkeeper has been Vozinha. One of the biggest surprises...his experience, his leadership and match-winning saves. Against Argentina, he made quite a few clean saves and even in the match against Spain which ended in a goalless draw. Everybody is remembering Cape Verde because of him. He was outstanding," Paul remarked.

Reflecting on the broader evolution of the game, Paul noted that emerging nations have narrowed the gap through incredible tactical discipline.

"Every team is tactically very sound. Earlier, it was more about talent and individual brilliance. But in this World Cup, there has been tactical flexibility. A few young players did very well. The new countries have (truly) arrived," he explained.

This tactical shift has fundamentally redefined the goalkeeper's modern blueprint, transforming them into multi-functional players who must excel far beyond the six-yard box.

"It's not only the defenders, the goalkeepers are the first line of (defence)... (in fact)attackers also. Every attack begins from the goalkeepers. Now, goalkeepers are not only shot-stoppers; they are taking part in the attack. Now, most teams start playing from the back. They have good feet... when teams are defending, the goalkeeper is playing as a sweeper stopper," Paul observed.

When asked to predict who will ultimately lift the trophy, the Indian football legend chose to focus on team dynamics rather than naming a single favorite.

"All the teams are good, but on matchday the team that displays better discipline will win. France, Spain, England are all contenders. And then there is Messi's Argentina. They are all favourites but there is no guarantee which team will win," he concluded. (PTI)