World Football's 22 Worst Goalkeeping Gaffes Ever

Goalkeepers live a mostly thankless existence.

Make a great save and they're patted on the back for a job…done.

Make a howling mistake and they're ridiculed for the rest of their lives.

We'd feel sorry for them—if their gaffes weren't so stinkin' hilarious.

Here are 22 of the absolute best, or worst. Enjoy.

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Gary Sprake, Pt. I

This might be the most famous of them all, and for good reason.

Leeds United keeper Gary Sprake actually threw the ball into his own net during a game against Liverpool at Anfield in 1967.

That might never be topped.

Gary Sprake, Pt. II

While we're here, let's give Ol' Gary a shot at redemption.

Fast forward to the 0:50 mark and...oops.

And this guy represented Wales 37 times.

David James

Poor David James. We've all made a joke at his expense, and some people might actually think his real first name is Calamity.

Alas, there are several candidates from which to choose. We'll go with this one from 2008, when Calamity James' blunder against VfL Wolfsburg knocked Portsmouth out of the UEFA Cup.

And, yes, this guy represented England 53 times.

Alan Knight

Sadly, online video footage of Alan Knight's howler for Portsmouth against Wimbledon from 1984 is scarce.

But it's too bad to be forgotten.

Seconds after Wimbledon had equalized against Knight's Portsmouth, Noel Blake passed back to Knight, but Knight was crouching at one side of his goal, taking care of an injury.

The ball rolled literally half the length of the pitch into the goal.

Peter Shilton

Peter Shilton was an excellent goalkeeper for England, but not in this moment against Italy during the 1990 World Cup.

That was the easiest goal Roberto Baggio ever scored. And the sad part is that Shilton was playing his last international.

Rene Higuita

You know Rene Higuita for his famous Scorpion Kick.

Here's the other side of his flamboyant antics.

Bjarte Flem

Sprake's own goal may never be topped, but that didn't stop Bjarte Flem from trying in a 1988 match with Tromso.

Stay tuned for the picture at the end.

John Lukic

In the Battle of Britain in 1992 between Leeds and Rangers, John Lukic managed to punch the ball into his own net for a Rangers goal.

Rangers won both legs of the Champions League tie.

Shay Given

This is Shay Given, then of Newcastle, allowing a hilarious goal against Coventry in 1997. In all honesty, this is the only way Dion Dublin ever scored.

I dare you not to laugh.

Gordon Banks

The referee inexplicably disallowed this George Best goal for Northern Ireland against Gordon Banks and England in 1971.

But it's still a bad, bad error from the legendary England keeper.

Massimo Taibi

Massimo Taibi had just joined Manchester United for £4.5 million. Not long after that, he did this—and promptly checked his cleats to make sure they hadn't let him down.

In his next game, Taibi committed another error in a 5-0 loss to Chelsea.

He never played for United again.

Dave Beasant

Chelsea's Dave Beasant committed two howlers during a 3-2 loss to Norwich in 1992.

You decide which one is worse.

Andy Dibble

This Andy Dibble brain-fart comes from Manchester City's 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest in 1990.

Look at those shorts!

Ray Clemence

What is it with English goalkeepers (and there's more to come, mind you).

This error by Ray Clemence came against Kenny Dalglish and Scotland in 1976.

Heurelho Gomes

Tottenham's Heurelho Gomes is another keeper with a long rap sheet of blunders.

This one against Fulham in 2008 was one of his worst.

Artur Boruc

Artur Boruc swings…and he's down on strikes!

Blame it on the pitch if you want. This was just a boneheaded mistake.

Scott Carson

This clip seems unnecessarily mean, but Scott Carson's blunder for England against Croatia in 2007 is worthy of ridicule.

That's why you don't let the ball bounce, Scotty.

Byran Gunn

Sigh. Which is worse?

Bryan Gunn's air-kick?

Or his hideous kit?

Peter Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel is one of Manchester United's all-time greats.

Not on this day in 1998 against Barnsley (fast forward to 2:25 on the video).

Fabien Barthez

We can't have a countdown of goalkeeping mistakes without Fabien Barthez.

Um, Fab, play to the whistle. Way to go, clown.

Robert Green

Robert Green spilled Clint Dempsey's shot into the England net during the 2010 World Cup.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie, the Americans won the group and England had to face Germany in the next round.

We all remember how that ended.

Artem Gomelko

Come on, dude! The ball wasn't even going into the net.

Thankfully for Artem Gomelko, there was nobody at the match to see this error.

But thankfully for us, the internet kept the howler alive.