Santiago Canizares: 'Thibaut Courtois is as good as Manuel Neuer'

Former Spain international Santiago Canizares has claimed that Manuel Neuer and Thibaut Courtois are the two best goalkeepers in the world.

Neuer has been shortlisted alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for this year's Ballon D'or, after helping Germany to lift the World Cup.

The Bayern Munich shot-stopper is regarded as the world's best keeper, but Canizares feels that Chelsea's Courtois has impressed enough to be mentioned alongside him.

"Neuer is absolutely world class; without a doubt," Canizares told the Bundesliga's official website, "But I would classify Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea as roughly equal.

"For me, they are by far the two best goalkeepers [in the world]."

Canizares made 46 appearances for Spain and played over 400 times for Valencia during his career.