Gordon Banks Is Responsible For Making The Greatest Save Of All Time Against Pele

He will forever be regarded as one of the all time greats.

England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks sadly passed away on Tuesday morning: a true legend of the game.

Banks, who made 628 appearances during a 15-year career in the Football League, was famously part of England's World Cup winning squad in 1966.

But one save in particular will always stay with the former Leicester, Stoke City and Chesterfield goalkeeper.

It was the 1970 World Cup in Mexico and England came up against Brazil in the group stages.

The game, however, will always be remembered for a save widely acclaimed as the greatest in World Cup history.

Pele must have thought he'd found the net with a powerful header from a few yards out but Banks, who was 33 at the time, somehow managed to prevent it from going in with an unorthodox save.

I'm still not sure how he managed this:

Banks' legacy will live on, especially thanks to his incredible World Cup record.

The fact that he has the best ratio of minutes per goal conceded (210 mins) in the history of the competition says it all.

The former Stoke City man was also incredible at saving penalties. Just check out the below clip against West Ham.

It was hit with some venom but Banks had it covered.

Thanks for the memories, Gordon.

Rest in peace.

Topics: Football News, Football, England, Pele, World Cup

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

@jackkenmare_