Liverpool’s Spain international Jose Reina was given a chance yesterday when Spain took on host South Africa in the Confed Cup and proved he is, indeed, the best goalkeeper in the world at the moment by not conceding a single goal and boosting his personal rating by 8 rating points to 142.28 points over all.

Reina has extended his lead in the ranking of the world’s best goalkeepers to 17 rating points over second-placed Julio Cesar of Inter Milan and Brazil. Cesar will have a tricky task today when Brazil take on World Cup holders Italy in the same competition: with their back against the wall, the Italians will come out eager to re-establish their shattered authority after the loss to Egypt. Cesar will have a plank of 7 rating points to beat.

Meanwhile, Reina will have a higher plank of 14.60 rating points to beat in each of his next three games; he will have to produce a string of strong performances if he wants to hold on to the much coveted top spot.