When the 2018 World Cup poster was revealed, it featured an image of one of Russia's greatest players, Lev Yashin.
People of all ages - who were alive to see England win the 1966 World Cup - may remember the goalkeeper who helped the Soviet Union finish fourth.
Yashin's nickname, "The Black Spider," was fitting for a player who had exceptional reflexes, precise positioning in front of goal, and was memorable in his black clothes, flat cap, and knee braces.
An imposing figure between the posts due to his commanding presence, Yashin revolutionized the position by giving instructions to the players, occasionally stepping outside his own lines to advise his teammates. It was the 1958 World Cup Championship when he reached the highest world rank.
It was the first tour to globally showcase the unforgettable figure, nickname and unique style that helped to increase his popularity.
Born in 1929, Yashin began his career as a young teenager, working in a military factory and playing for Dinamo Moscow.
It took time to find a place in the first team. But by 1953 - three years after his debut - Yashin was also playing as a goalie in ice hockey, winning a USSR Cup.
He spent his entire 20-year career with the Dinamo team, winning five titles and three Cups, while he was invited to the national team for the first time in 1954.
Lev Yashin is undoubtedly the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football
Over the next 16 years, he took part in four World Cups, 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970. In the first, he injured his eye in a 2-0 defeat to champions Brazil.
He did not allow any mess to be made in the match and for this he found his name in the team of the tournament.
In voting for the Ballon d'Or, Yashin twice finished fifth and in 1961 was ranked fourth.
Two years later, after impressing in the World Cup final against England, he finally became a household name.
The home side won 2-1, but it could have been a lot worse if it wasn't for Yashin Port.
Jimmy Greaves, Denis Law and Eusebio were close to being named Player of the Year but could not match the unanimous support of the legendary goalkeeper who won with 73 points.
England legend Gordon Banks, a six-time goalkeeper of the year nominee, was asked if he was better than his Soviet counterpart.
"Yashin is the best goalkeeper and there's no question about that," he replied, adding, "I've seen him play and everything he did was absolutely good."
Other goalkeepers were very close to winning the best individual trophy. Dino Zoff and Gianluigi Buffon finished second in the Ballon d'Or votes.
Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer is tipped as a contender and it's only a matter of time before Manchester United's David Gea is on the shortlist.
But it is unlikely that another goalkeeper will match the legendary Russian. Yashin has saved 151 penalties in his 20-year career as a goalkeeper.
In 1967 he was awarded the Order of Lenin, the highest award in the USSR, and in 1994, FIFA established the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper at the World Cup. In 2000, ten years after his death, he was named FIFA's goalkeeper of the century.
Many have tried to follow in the Russian's footsteps and many goalkeepers will try to win the world's best award next summer.
But it seems very unlikely that anyone will compare with the Soviet legend. /Telegraph/
