India, May 28 -- In Germany's footballing folklore, a new word entered the tales over a decade ago. Reklamier-Arm: Arm of Objection. A term created for Manuel Neuer.

Through the course of his 22-year professional career, the goalkeeper has a habit of raising his arm in protest as soon as the ball crosses into his own net. The Arm of Objection is raised in the hope the referee will spot the opponent being a hair's length-offside, notice the unnoticeable hint of a handball, blow the whistle for an imaginary foul. anything that would disallow the goal.

Reklamier-Arm is unappealing to the German public. But what endears Neuer is his goalkeeping prowess that has made him one of the most iconic players in that position. And in June, the 40-ye...