Another Barcelona player to have come through the academy, Valdes is the most successful goalkeeper in the club's history, having won four La Liga titles, two Champions League titles, and one Copa del Rey.

Agile, commanding and so consistent, Valdes is a class act and although he is behind Iker Casillas and Pepe Reina in the Spanish goalkeeper ranks, would doubtless walk into the starting line-up of the vast majority of sides in the world.

He did not make his international debut until a friendly in June 2010, but is viewed as one of the best goalkeepers in world football and won the World Cup with Spain as their third-choice 'keeper in South Africa.

Strengths: Quick and able to get around his area well, Valdes has excellent reflexes and is cool under pressure.

Weaknesses: Some have criticised his decision making, as well as his consistency in the past.

Career high: Winning the Zamora Trophy for the best goalkeeper in Spain, he picked up six trophies in 2008-09.

Career low: Missing out on the World Cup in 2006, it took him until the age of 28 to get his first international callup.

Style: Agile, commanding, a well respected goalkeeper.

Quotes: ''Since he was a child, he has always viewed each training as a chance to improve. His ability to push himself is something unique, and when someone works this way, he deserves to have things go well.'' Andres Iniesta on Valdes' commitment.

Trivia: He re-wrote the Barcelona record books after not conceding a goal for 466 minutes in 2007.