Top 5 Saves from World Football in November

November was a fine month for goalkeepers.

Numerous top stars improved their reputations with vital contributions in the Champions League and across the European divisions.

Gianluigi Buffon was consistently superb—and was rewarded with a spot in Bleacher Report’s Team of the Month—but there were some less-heralded names who also deserve praise.

In this feature, we present the top five saves from world football in November.

Comment below and let us know if you agree with our selections, and if there were any super stops that you feel we missed out on.

Matias Cano

It may be nearly 20 years since Rene Higuita’s immortal scorpion kick at Wembley, yet that particularly sublime display of agility lives on in football folklore.

I wonder if Matias Cano’s stop will prove to be similarly unforgettable.

Deportivo Moron’s Gerardo Martinez, seemingly desperate to shake off the stigma of playing for such an unfortunately named club, attempted a lob from 50 yards out with Cano off his line.

Dashing backwards, the goalkeeper fired himself in the air before clearing the ball with a last-minute overhead kick.

Cano’s efforts were all for naught, however, as UAI went on to lose 1-0.

Joel Mall

…and now for something completely different.

It was clear that when FC Zurich's Mohamed Chermiti stepped up to face Joel Mall from the spot, the FC Aarau keeper had no intention of letting the ball pass him by.

Mall blocked Chermiti’s initial (feeble) effort, but he could only palm the ball back into the Tunisian’s path.

The forward, sensing glory, volleyed back towards goal only for Mall to leap up and pull off a superb reaction save with his right hand.

Chermiti, not believing his luck, once again received the rebound, who heads towards goal.

Igor N’Ganga, borrowing some of Mall’s incredible endeavour, charged forward, demonstrating remarkable agility to hook the ball clear.

Aarau ultimately went on to lose the game 1-0, but we doubt Mall was to blame!

Next time, Joel, try and hold onto it!

Alisson Becker

While Matias Cano and Joel Mall will likely show their grandchildren the videos (or gifs…or vines) of their remarkable saves, it’s hard to see Alisson Becker doing the same.

In a high-profile clash in Brazil between Internacional and Sao Paulo, a 22-year-old keeper could have been forgiven for shirking the pressure or for shying away from responsibility.

Not Becker.

The stopper chested an initial effort down into the path of an on-rushing attacker, who blasted the rebound towards goal.

Fortunately, Becker was Jonny-on-the-spot, and sprung up just in time to take the ball full-on in the face.

Ouch!

Danny Rogers

CLAUDE PARIS/Associated Press

I don’t know how many times Aberdeen goalkeeper Danny Rogers has featured among the hallowed pages of Bleacher Report. However, based on his showing for Ireland U-21s earlier in the month, I’d suggest that our writers might be covering this youngster a lot over the future!

As is the case for a few other super stoppers on this list, Rogers was on the losing team when his side took on the USA U-21 side.

A long-range strike looked destined for the top corner until the keeper, channelling his inner-superman, leaped across the goal to hook the ball clear.

Watch this video from 1.35 to see Rogers's superb effort.

Manuel Neuer

Let’s close with a giant of the profession, Manuel Neuer.

The international could have featured in this list for one of a handful of fine saves throughout the month (he kept five clean sheets out of a possible seven in November).

However, it was his stop against AS Roma at the beginning of the month that rounds off this feature.

His block from Gervinho thwarted an almost certain goal, while his second save, to deny Radja Nainggolan, was superlative.

This moment demonstrated, once again, that Neuer is a truly world-class operator.