Lev Yashin is known as the "Black Panther" because of the coloring of his goalkeeping kit and his amazing reflexes and agility. He is described as "the most famous Soviet sportsman ever".

Lev Yashin won the Supreme League six times and the Soviet Cup twice. He picked up a record 78 caps for his country. He was a brilliant goalkeeper.

Yashin was awarded his country's highest honor, the Order of Lenin, in 1968. Lev Yashin died in 1990.