The goalkeeper is one of the most important and challenging positions in soccer.
A good goalkeeper can make the difference between winning and losing, between glory and despair.
But who are the best goalkeepers in the world right now? How do they compare to each other and the legends of the past?
In this article, we will try to answer these questions and more, using various criteria such as statistics, awards, achievements, and reputation.
We will also look at some of the upcoming talents and the best goalkeepers in different competitions such as the World Cup and FIFA Mobile. Let’s get started!
World Best Goalkeeper 2024
The year 2024 is still a few months away, but we can already make some predictions based on the current form and performance of the top goalkeepers in the world.
Of course, things can change quickly in soccer, and injuries, transfers, and loss of form can affect the rankings.
However, based on the available data and expert opinions, we can narrow down the list of candidates to a few names.
Here are some of the factors that we considered:
- Club and international performance in the 2023-24 season
- Individual awards and recognition
- Consistency and reliability
- Leadership and influence
- Potential and improvement
Based on these criteria, we have selected five goalkeepers who we think are the best in the world right now, or at least very close to it.
Here they are:
1. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)
The Belgian giant has been one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world for several years.
He has won multiple trophies with Real Madrid, including two La Liga titles and a Champions League title.
He was also instrumental in Belgium’s run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Thibaut has excellent reflexes, positioning, handling, and distribution skills.
He is also a leader on and off the pitch, commanding his defence and organizing his team.
2. Ederson Moraes (Manchester City and Brazil)
The Brazilian shot-stopper is one of the key players in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City team, which has dominated English soccer in recent years.
He has won three Premier League titles, four League Cups, one FA Cup, and one Champions League title with City.
Ederson is also Brazil’s number-one goalkeeper, having helped them win the Copa America in 2021.
He is known for his exceptional ability to play with his feet, launching accurate long passes and initiating attacks from the back.
He is also very agile, brave, and composed under pressure.
3. André Onana (Manchester United and Cameroon)
The Cameroonian keeper has been one of the most impressive performers in Europe since joining Manchester United from Ajax in 2023.
He has quickly established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League, helping United challenge for the title and reach the final of the Champions League.
He is also a hero for his country, having led them to their sixth Africa Cup of Nations title in 2022.
Onana is a very athletic and acrobatic goalkeeper, capable of making spectacular saves and reactions.
He is also very confident and calm with the ball at his feet, playing out from the back with ease.
4. Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany)
The German keeper has been one of the few bright spots for Barcelona in recent years, as they have struggled to keep up with their rivals domestically and internationally.
He has been a loyal servant for the Catalan club, winning four La Liga titles, four Copa del Rey titles, one Champions League title, and two FIFA Club World Cup titles.
He is also Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, having replaced Manuel Neuer after his decline.
Stegen is a very complete goalkeeper, with no obvious weaknesses in his game.
He is very good at shot-stopping, handling, positioning, distribution, communication, and decision-making.
5. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Italy)
The Italian prodigy has been hailed as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation since he made his debut for AC Milan at the age of 16.
He has since moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 20217, where he has formed a formidable partnership with Keylor Navas.
He has won two Ligue 1 titles, two Coupe de France titles, one Coupe de la Ligue title, and one UEFA Super Cup title with PSG.
Gianluigi is also a national hero for Italy, having helped them win their second European Championship title in 2021.
He is a very imposing goalkeeper, standing at 6’5″ and weighing over 200 lbs.
He has great reflexes, strength, agility, and aerial ability.
Gianluigi is also very mature and confident for his age, showing great leadership and personality.
These are our picks for the world’s best goalkeeper in 2023, but of course, many other great goalkeepers could challenge them for the title.
Some of them are mentioned in the next section, where we rank the top 20 best goalkeepers in the world.
Top 20 Best Goalkeepers in the World
To rank the top 20 best goalkeepers in the world, we have used a combination of statistics, awards, achievements, reputation, and personal preference.
We have also considered the level of competition and difficulty that each goalkeeper faces in their respective leagues and tournaments.
Of course, this is a subjective and debatable topic, and everyone will have their own opinions and preferences.
However, we have tried to be as fair and objective as possible, using reliable sources and data to support our choices.
Here is our list of the top 20 best goalkeepers in the world right now:
1. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)
As explained in the previous section, we think Courtois is the best goalkeeper in the world right now, based on his consistent and outstanding performance for both club and country.
He has won multiple trophies and individual awards, and he has proven himself at the highest level of soccer.
He is a complete goalkeeper, with no significant flaws in his game.
2. Ederson Moraes (Manchester City and Brazil)
Ederson is a close second to Courtois, as he is also a very consistent and reliable goalkeeper for both club and country.
He has also won multiple trophies and individual awards, and he has shown his quality at the highest level of soccer.
He is a unique goalkeeper, with his exceptional ability to play with his feet and launch attacks from the back.
3. André Onana (Manchester United and Cameroon)
Onana is a rising star in the world of soccer, as he has impressed everyone with his performance for both club and country.
He has quickly adapted to the Premier League, where he has become one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
He has also led his country to glory at the Africa Cup of Nations, where he was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Andre is a very athletic and acrobatic goalkeeper, capable of making spectacular saves and reactions.
4. Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona and Germany)
Ter Stegen is one of the most experienced and respected goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at the top level for several years.
He has been one of the few bright spots for Barcelona in recent years, as he has saved them from many defeats and disappointments.
Stegen is also Germany’s first-choice goalkeeper, having replaced Manuel Neuer after his decline.
He is a very complete goalkeeper, with no obvious weaknesses in his game.
5. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Italy)
Donnarumma is one of the most talented and promising goalkeepers in the world, as he has shown his potential since he was a teenager.
He has moved to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, where he has formed a formidable partnership with Keylor Navas.
Gianluigi is also a national hero for Italy, having helped them win their second European Championship title in 2021.
He is a very imposing goalkeeper, standing at 6’5″ and weighing over 200 lbs.
He has great reflexes, strength, agility, and aerial ability.
Navas is one of the most underrated and overlooked goalkeepers in the world, as he has been consistently performing at a high level for both club and country.
He has won multiple trophies with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, including three Champions League titles with Madrid.
Keylor is also a legend for Costa Rica, having led them to their best World Cup performance in 2014.
He is a very agile and brave goalkeeper, who never gives up on any ball.
7. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid and Slovenia)
Oblak is one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Atletico Madrid’s success in recent years, helping them win two La Liga titles and reach two Champions League finals.
Jan is also Slovenia’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 50 appearances for his country.
He is a very calm and composed goalkeeper, who rarely makes mistakes or concedes goals.
8. Alisson Becker (Liverpool and Brazil)
Alisson Becker is another Brazilian goalkeeper who has been playing at a high level for both club and country.
He has won multiple trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League title, the Champions League title, the FIFA Club World Cup title, and the UEFA Super Cup title.
Allison is also Brazil’s number two goalkeeper, behind Ederson, having helped them win the Copa America in 2019.
He is a very agile and confident goalkeeper, who excels at shot-stopping, handling, distribution, and communication.
9. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Neuer is one of the most experienced and decorated goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at the top level for over a decade.
He has won multiple trophies with Bayern Munich, including nine Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokal titles, two Champions League titles, and two FIFA Club World Cup titles.
Manuel is also Germany’s captain and a World Cup winner in 2014.
He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of all time, and a pioneer of the sweeper-keeper style, which involves playing as an extra defender and initiating attacks from the back.
He is a very versatile and intelligent goalkeeper, who can adapt to any situation and opponent.
10. David de Gea (Manchester United and Spain)
De Gea is one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Manchester United’s success in recent years, helping them win multiple trophies, including the Europa League title, the FA Cup title, and the League Cup title.
He is also Spain’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 50 appearances for his country.
David is a very agile and reflexive goalkeeper, who can make incredible saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
11. Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur and France)
Lloris is one of the most experienced and respected goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at the top level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Tottenham Hotspur’s improvement in recent years, helping them reach their first-ever Champions League final in 2019.
He is also France’s captain and a World Cup winner in 2018.
Lloris is a very agile and brave goalkeeper, who can make spectacular saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
12. Wojciech Szczesny (Juventus and Poland)
Szczesny is one of the most improved and impressive goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Juventus’ dominance in Italy, helping them win five Serie A titles, three Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles.
He is also Poland’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 50 appearances for his country.
Szczesny is a very athletic and confident goalkeeper, who can make great saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
13. Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City and Denmark)
Schmeichel is one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Leicester City’s remarkable success in recent years, helping them win their first-ever Premier League title in 2016 and their first-ever FA Cup title in 2021.
He is also Denmark’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 60 appearances for his country.
Kasper is a very agile and reflexive goalkeeper, who can make incredible saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
14. Yann Sommer (Borussia Mönchengladbach and Switzerland)
Sommer is one of the most underrated and overlooked goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Borussia Mönchengladbach’s improvement in recent years, helping them qualify for the Champions League and challenge for the Bundesliga title.
Sommer is also Switzerland’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 60 appearances for his country.
He is a very agile and confident goalkeeper, who excels at shot-stopping, handling, distribution, and communication.
15. Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan and Slovenia)
Handanovic is one of the most experienced and respected goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at the top level for over a decade.
He has been one of the main reasons for Inter Milan’s resurgence in recent years, helping them win their first Serie A title in 11 years in 2021.
Samir is also Slovenia’s number two goalkeeper, behind Jan Oblak, having made over 80 appearances for his country.
He is a very calm and composed goalkeeper, who rarely makes mistakes or concedes goals.
16. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid and Belgium)
Courtois is one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has won multiple trophies with Real Madrid, including two La Liga titles and a Champions League title.
He was also instrumental in Belgium’s run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, where he won the Golden Glove award as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Thibaut has excellent reflexes, positioning, handling, and distribution skills.
He is also a leader on and off the pitch, commanding his defence and organizing his team.
17. Rui Patricio (Wolverhampton Wanderers and Portugal)
Patricio is one of the most experienced and decorated goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at the top level for over a decade.
He has been one of the main reasons for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ success in recent years, helping them establish themselves as a Premier League team and reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League in 2020.
Rui is also Portugal’s number one goalkeeper, having helped them win their first-ever European Championship title in 2016 and reach the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup.
He is a very agile and brave goalkeeper, who can make spectacular saves and reactions.
18. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa and Argentina)
Martinez is one of the most improved and impressive goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Aston Villa’s improvement in recent years, helping them avoid relegation from the Premier League and challenge for European qualification.
He is also Argentina’s number one goalkeeper, having helped them win their first Copa America title in 28 years in 2021.
Emiliano is a very athletic and confident goalkeeper, who can make great saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
19. Peter Gulacsi (RB Leipzig and Hungary)
Gulacsi is one of the most underrated and overlooked goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for RB Leipzig’s success in recent years, helping them become one of the best teams in Germany and Europe.
Peter is also Hungary’s number-one goalkeeper, having made over 40 appearances for his country.
He is a very calm and composed goalkeeper, who rarely makes mistakes or concedes goals.
20. Bernd Leno (Arsenal and Germany)
Leno is one of the most consistent and reliable goalkeepers in the world, as he has been playing at a high level for several years.
He has been one of the main reasons for Arsenal’s stability in recent years, helping them win two FA Cup titles and one Community Shield title.
He is also Germany’s number two goalkeeper, behind Marc-André ter Stegen, having made over 10 appearances for his country.
Leno is a very agile and reflexive goalkeeper, who can make incredible saves and reactions.
He is also very good at handling, positioning, distribution, and communication.
FAQs
Who is the number one goalkeeper in the world?
According to Insider, the number one goalkeeper in the world right now is Jan Oblak.
Jan who plays for Atletico Madrid and Slovenia.
He is praised for his consistency, reflexes, and leadership.
He has kept 15 clean sheets in 38 games in La Liga last season and has a 75.8% save percentage.
Who is the king of football goalkeepers?
This is a subjective question that may have different opinions, but one possible candidate is Oliver Kahn, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
He played for Bayern Munich and Germany, winning:
- eight Bundesliga titles
- six DFB-Pokal cups
- one UEFA Champions League
- one UEFA Cup
- one Intercontinental Cup
He also won the Golden Ball as the best player of the 2002 World Cup, becoming the first and only goalkeeper to do so.
Who is the number-one goalkeeper in the world in 2023?
This is a hypothetical question that cannot be answered with certainty, but based on current form and potential, one possible candidate is Gianluigi Donnarumma, who plays for AC Milan and Italy.
He is only 22 years old, but he has already established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Gianluigi has kept 71 clean sheets in 215 matches for AC Milan and has not conceded a goal for Italy in over 1000 minutes.
He is also expected to leave AC Milan this summer and join a bigger club, which could boost his reputation further.
Who is the best goalkeeper of this generation?
This is another subjective question that may have different opinions, but one possible candidate is Manuel Neuer, who plays for Bayern Munich and Germany.
He is considered a pioneer of the modern style of goalkeeping, which involves:
- playing as a sweeper-keeper
- being involved in the build-up play
Neur has won:
- nine Bundesliga titles
- six DFB-Pokal cups
- two UEFA Champions Leagues
- two UEFA Super Cups
- two FIFA Club World Cups
- one World Cup
He has also been named the world’s best goalkeeper by IFFHS four times and has been included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI five times.
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