Portugal's number one who earned the accolade after an impressive Euro 2004 campaign. After spending the 2002 World Cup as back-up to the veteran keeper Vitor Baia, the Sporting Lisbon shot-stopper stepped up ahead of the last European Championship finals and claimed the number one jersey. After keeping two clean sheets in the group stages, he not only saved Darius Vassell's spot-kick in the quarter-final shoot-out with England but also sent Sven-Goran Eriksson's side packing by dispatching the winning penalty himself. On the domestic front Ricardo hasn't enjoyed the best of seasons with Sporting but importantly still retains the faith of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.