According to reports, Marc-André ter Stegen faced a major challenge this season. A complete tear of the right knee tendon during a match against Villarreal in September kept him out of Barcelona’s lineup for almost the entire season. However, after months of hard work and training with the team, the German captain is now part of the squad for the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. Seven months of intense recovery to return at a crucial stage of the season presents an opportunity for ter Stegen to make history.

Ter Stegen, who joined Barcelona in the summer of 2014, has won five Copa del Rey titles in the 2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2020-21 seasons. He played in the finals of the first two seasons and the last season, but in the other two finals, Jasper Cillessen was Barcelona’s goalkeeper.

Legendary Goalkeepers

Only three goalkeepers in Copa del Rey history have won five titles: Miguel Ángel (Real Madrid, 1960s-1980s), Ramallets (Barcelona, 1950s), and Ricardo Zamora (Barcelona, Espanyol, and Real Madrid). Ter Stegen is now level with these three legends, but if Barcelona wins at La Cartuja, he will stand alone with six titles.

However, ter Stegen is unlikely to start in this final. Wojciech Szczęsny, who was brought in due to ter Stegen’s injury, will be Barcelona’s goalkeeper against Real Madrid. Ter Stegen did not play in any Copa del Rey matches this season and, before his injury, only appeared in six La Liga matches and one Champions League game. Iñaki Peña played in the round of 16 against Betis, and Szczęsny played in the later stages against Barbastro, Valencia, and Atlético Madrid.

If Barcelona wins, ter Stegen, with six titles, will not only hold the record for most Copa del Rey titles by a goalkeeper but will also join the likes of Sergi Roberto, Andrés Iniesta, Bernd Schuster, Juan Segarra, and Samitier (all with six titles), just one behind record-holders such as Gerard Piqué, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Guillermo Amor, and Josep Seguer.