"That looks dangerous," the 28-year-old national goalie said as he confronted the steely gaze of his Doppelgänger at a preview Monday, before adding, "That's a hundred percent Manuel Neuer!"

Clearly impressed by the likeness of the 1.93 metre wax figure, he took the space-saving switch of smaller handball for soccer goalposts in his stride: "Also a good sport. My dad used to play handball."

Commissioned last August, 20 experts at the London-based waxwork museum took four months to complete the €200,000 likeness.

Three sculptors flew in to measure up the Germany and Bayern FC goalie and take more than 150 photos of his head and body from all angles. Neuer was also encouraged to just be himself during the sitting, since the effigies are also supposed to capture personality and character traits.