After a fumbling start that almost cost his side qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League, Barcelona keeper Víctor Valdés took hold of himself and ended the game against Dynamo Kyiv (2:1) in command to rise to # 1 in the FTBL world ranking, just as our experts predicted.

Valdés added just 5.6 rating points in the FTBL system, but that was enough to take his overall score to 131.81 points, the highest of any goalkeeper at the moment in the world. The No. 2, Chelsea’s Petr Cech, has 128. 67 points, while No. 3 Iker Casillas of Real Madrid has 128.21 points.

All three goalkeepers will face planks of at least 14 rating points to beat in the FTBL system in the next round of games. Only a “clean” victory (without conceding a goal) will guarantee a bonus.