Manuel Neuer isn’t a man for ifs and buts.

The Germany goalkeeper, who is on the shortlist of three for FIFA’s Ballon d’Or with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, is discussing his decision to come out and punch the ball in the 56th minute of the World Cup final when, in doing so, he flattened Gonzalo Higuain.

Had he received the red card many thought he deserved, history might have been very different. Would Germany have won the World Cup with 10 men? Certainly Neuer would not have been on the FIFA shortlist.

VIDEO Scroll down to see the rise and rise of Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer looks on during the 3-2 Champions League loss to Manchester City last month

Neuer races out of the Bayern Munich goal to clear the ball away from Bayer Leverkusen's Gonzalo Castro

Even for a goalkeeper accustomed to playing on the edge, it seemed a huge risk to take in the biggest match of his life. A minute misjudgment could have ended his game.

‘I played the ball and I was clear about that,’ Neuer says, quite calmly, as if a little surprised by the questioning.

But perhaps another referee would have viewed it differently? ‘I don’t think so as he [Higuain] didn’t play the ball at all and I’m the sort of player who does play the ball.

‘I was surprised the referee awarded a free-kick for us as I thought he would give Argentina the throw-in.’ Neuer’s brother, Marcel, is a referee in the lower German leagues. What was his view? ‘I don’t think he’d have given me the free-kick,’ says the goalkeeper.

Neuer is the consummate risk taker, playing on the edge of his box and contributing to the passing and build-up as a ‘sweeper-keeper’. He joins in Pep Guardiola’s famous ‘rondo’ passing exercise to perfect the team’s possession football.

Neuer races out of his goal to punch the ball clear for Germany during the World Cup final

As he did so he collided with Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain while the score was still 0-0

But the referee took no action and Neuer remained on the pitch as Germany went on to win 1-0

‘I don’t have any problems,’ he says. ‘The way Pep looks at it we’re not just a team with 10 players and a goalkeeper. We really are 11 players and that fits in with my game. I’m glad we’ve got that philosophy and achieve 70-plus per cent possession in games. I take risks but I’m aware of the situations. I always try to make the right decision when I’m in a dangerous position.’

Off the pitch he appears just as methodical. Without indulging national stereotypes, he demonstrates a degree of punctuality uncommon in professional footballers. He starts our interview 10 minutes early.

What is not in dispute is that Neuer is the best goalkeeper in the world. Only once before has a keeper won the Ballon d’Or, but that was so long ago that it almost represents ancient history. ‘From Russia in 1966,’ he says. ‘I’ve forgotten his name.’ Lev Yashin was the man, the year was 1963.

Over the years Dino Zoff and Oliver Kahn have received nominations. ‘It’s not usual for a goalkeeper to be in the top three,’ says Neuer. ‘It‘s very special for me. I’m proud and grateful and it’s a great thrill but I owe a lot to my team-mates in the Germany side and at Bayern who helped make it possible.

‘I would have been happy if another Germany player had made it. It could have been a Bayern player or from Borussia Dortmund as they’ve also played well.’

Neuer won the Golden Glove at the 2014 World Cup while Lionel Messi was awarded the Golden Ball gong

Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo is the third man on the Ballon d'Or shortlist

THE BALLON D'OR RIVALS Lionel Messi 2014 World Cup runner-up Wins World Cup Golden Ball 2013-14 La Liga second-top scorer (28) Becomes La Liga all-time top scorer Becomes Champions League all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo 2013-14 Champions League winner 2013-14 Champions League top scorer (17) 2013-14 La Liga top scorer (31) 2014 UEFA Super Cup Scores his 50th goal for Portugal Manuel Neuer 2014 World Cup winner Wins Golden Glove at World Cup finals 2014 German Footballer of the Year 2013-14 Bundesliga winner 2013-14 German Cup winner Advertisement

Mentioning Dortmund is a well-judged aside. In the past the rivalry between Dortmund and Bayern has hindered unity in the German camp. Not so last summer.

From the beginning of the World Cup campaign, the German team captains — Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker — made plans at their Brazilian training base to help the squad to bond, ensuring there was a good mix of clubs represented in the villas the players shared.

And — memo to the FA, who abandoned remote locations for city centres after England’s desolate Rustenburg base in South Africa — Neuer says the solitude of their tropical beachside training camp, which was literally hundreds of miles from any major conurbation, contributed to their success. He was awoken every morning in Brazil by the sound of monkeys, something he says helped him to relax.

‘We were in a tropical region and we don’t have that many monkeys in central Europe so it was a bit special. What always stood out for us was our cohesion on the pitch and team spirit. It was possibly the case in [the World Cup in] 2010 and [Euro] 2012 that the rivalry between Dortmund and Bayern players had an effect given the battle for the German title between the two clubs.

‘At the camp we had peace and quiet and we could relax. We had different villas and a central point to watch TV. You could get away from it all or you could socialise with your team-mates. After we played and did our recovery it felt like we were at home together. There was no stress or fuss so you had the chance to recharge your batteries.’

Neuer has established himself as arguably the best goalkeeper in the world at Bayern Munich

The Germany goalkeeper takes advice during a discussion with Bayern boss Pep Guardiola (left)

Neuer trains alongside Germany and Bayern Munich team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger (right)

The full-time whistle at the final in the Maracana was an overwhelming experience. ‘It’s impossible to describe that feeling. When Mario [Gotze] scored [the winning goal] I didn’t feel that relieved but when the referee blew for full time that was the most emotional moment for me. I just ran to my team-mates and we piled on top of each other.’

Neuer has been chosen as the epitome of this annus mirabilis for Germany. It might have been Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos or Lahm, but Neuer is an appropriate selection, given he is redefining his position.

‘I didn’t change the way I play at the World Cup,’ he insists. ‘At Bayern I was used to coming out of my box to try and clear up dangerous situations. The World Cup was just another platform so it gave other people the chance to see me who don’t watch German football.

'And perhaps it was also the case with journalists from around the world who got to see me play like that for the first time but it wasn’t a surprise for German football fans.’

Neuer was a Schalke fan and grew up watching Jens Lehmann, who went on to play for Arsenal and provided the template for Neuer’s style. ‘He was the keeper at Schalke and he played like that. And he did it on the international stage too. His game was so modern.’

Neuer might have followed in Lehmann’s footsteps. Arsenal wanted to sign him from Schalke in 2011 but he moved to Bayern. ‘There were a lot of rumours and I heard Arsenal were interested but it was certain that I would join Bayern and I don’t think the other clubs really felt like approaching me.’

Neuer celebrates Germany's winner during extra-time of the World Cup final against Argentina

He greets German Chancellor Angela Merkel after his nation were victorious at the Maracana

A joyous Neuer lifts the World Cup trophy aloft while his team-mates surround him after their triumph

It is at Germany’s premier club that he has become established as one of the world’s great players. Having lost the 2012 Champions League final on penalties to Chelsea, Bayern went on to win the trophy at Wembley in 2013 as part of the treble.

Last season Guardiola joined and the club won the league and cup double, going out to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. This season they look incapable of losing in the Bundesliga.

‘It’s true we are dominating the league but you have to look out for how the other teams [in Europe] are doing at the moment. Real Madrid are a great team. They strengthened their squad and they’re playing really good football.

‘Chelsea are a dangerous team. They played well against Schalke and could definitely beat us on a good day. They are dangerous. There are other teams like PSG where we don’t have the same experience of playing them as they haven’t been in the Champions League for a while. They’re one of the bigger unknowns. We believe we’re one of the favourites.’

Bayern are guaranteed to top their group in the Champions League, despite losing 3-2 with 10 men to Manchester City. Bayern have lost to the English champions twice, but both defeats came after they had qualified. In the matches that mattered, Bayern have dominated City.

Neuer cites former Germany and Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as a key influence on his style of play

Neuer kept goal for Bayern during the recent 3-2 defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium

Neuer says: ‘City are normally very strong in possession and they always try to play football. Perhaps that suits their game in England more. But playing the possession game in the Champions League leaves them more open at the back.

‘With us [against City, last month], we had to carry on playing with 10 men after the red card and the penalty but we kept hold of the ball and we were the better side. But we were tired by the end of the game. City will find it tough to get through.’

Not so Bayern, who can look ahead to a five-week winter break before readying themselves to go again in 2015. ‘I don’t have any problems with motivation. We were worried about making a poor start after the World Cup. But we got off to a brilliant start in the Bundesliga and I think the other teams were surprised we raced ahead.

‘One big target is to win the European Championship with Germany and we want to win the Champions League again. The final is in Berlin this season so we’ve got the prospect of winning the Champions League in Germany. Winning the league and cup at home is always good but the Champions League and the European Championship are the big ones.’