To him, who reads the Bible daily, it may seem irreverent.

But

Keylor Navas

has risen to the altars in Paris: 'The Messías is Navas', 'The hands of God', 'Guardian angel'.

They are owners of L'Équipe, Le Parisien and Le Monde.

Deserved, after two nights of memorable stops against Barcelona, ​​in the round of 16 and Bayern in the first leg (2-3) of the Champions League quarter-finals.

If PSG seals the pass by beating the reigning champion, they will not only have avenged their defeat in the Lisbon final, but will also acquire the status of favorites.

It will be thanks to the goals of

Mbappé

, in good shape, and to the saves of his Costa Rican goalkeeper.

And that is not a modern or very tall goalkeeper (1.85 m)!

He has other qualities: agility, positioning, reflexes.

He keeps saying "Thank God."

But he prepares thoroughly.

Traded by Real Madrid for 15 million ("a gift from

Florentino Pérez

", according to Le Figaro) he is the sixth highest paid footballer in France, a gross million a month.

Above are

Neymar

, more than three kilos a month,

Mbappé

(two kilos) and three other PSG players:

Marquinhos

and

Verrrati

(1.2 million) and

Di María

(1.1).

A modest and familiar man laughs that he and his wife had a better time at Disneyland than their children.

The only vice, he has his coffee brought from his native Costa Rica.

He was quickly integrated into the squad of this Spanish-speaking PSG whose stars (and their partners)

gather around barbecues

.

He is comfortable in Paris and at PSG, where he wants to continue playing for a long time.

At 34 years old, he has provided the Qatari capital club with the security that the mythical

Buffon

could not give him

.

Although he is the most valued player in his club and the best goalkeeper in La Ligue, according to the L'Équipe scale, his consecration has come to him for the last two Champions League games.

On the return, against Barça he supported the Parisian eleven who, in a panic, seemed about to throw away 1-4 at Camp Nou.

He made nine stops and saved a penalty from

Messi

, who had beaten him from 11 meters on four occasions.

Thanks god

Thank God I was able to stop it.

This penalty is for

Sergio Rico

and his family, who are going through difficult times, "he declared in reference to the death of his substitute's father.

That night he fell one stop short of

Petr Cech's

record

: 10 appearances for Chelsea in 2005 in the Champions League.

He matched the record in the next game, a week ago, at the Allianz Arena.

In an apocalyptic game under the snow, the ball went to Bayern Munich (64% possession), who finished once every three minutes (31) and sent 44 balls into the box.

He is not a Libero goalkeeper who starts the play.

«Navas is not bad with his foot but he knows his limits.

It is certainly not modern, nor is it old school.

Goalkeeper to dry.

Efficient, it shows that you don't have to be 1.95m tall to be talented, ”says

Joël Bats

, predecessor under the goalposts of the Parc des Princes stadium.

«He is a Latin goalkeeper but cold in managing emotions, always on good timing (...) he gives the impression of being invincible.

He exudes such security and such phlegm that he seems unperturbed, ”continues Bats.

Another former PSG goalkeeper,

Jérôme Alonzo

, also praised him: "He stands out for his positioning, his reading of the action and because he sows doubts in the opposing striker."

The former Real Madrid player has confessed to 'France Football': “I try to convey this calm strength and sense of responsibility to my teammates so that they feel comfortable.

I put the example of the exams in the university.

When you have studied, you feel

calm at your desk

.

You are prepared even if you don't know what they are going to ask you.

The same thing happens before the game, even if you don't know which player is going to shoot or where the ball is going to come from, I am ready to react because I have previously prepared the game ».

Three Champions League titles endorse his words.

Navas, without fuss, goes for the room.

Six goalkeepers accumulate three European Cups, and only one,

Juanito Alonso

(Real Madrid) has won more, five.

“Before entering the pitch I tell my teammates to enjoy every moment.

Win, win, win.

You have to keep that in mind always, "he says.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

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  • Keylor Navas

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