3 days Ago By Will Murray
Goalkeepers play a crucial role in a team's success and can be the difference between winning and losing. The ranking of the greatest goalkeepers takes into account factors such as longevity, consistency, and performances in finals. Lev Yashin, Iker Casillas and Manuel Neuer have all been ranked near the top of the standings.
Football goalkeepers play a huge role in a team every season. Acting as the final barrier of defence, their crucial saves, last-minute heroics and composure in between the sticks can be the difference between success and failure. An outfield player can make a mistake and get away with it; a goalkeeper can't.
As they play with hopes and dreams on their backs, they have to perform at the highest level every week. Elite goalkeepers are capable of winning points almost single-handedly and the very best are often held in the highest regard by the clubs they've starred for. Liverpool struggled with Loris Karius in goal during 2018, as the German made two crucial mistakes to see the Reds lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid .
They brought Alisson Becker in the summer of 2018, helping them win the Champions League a year later. It showcases how crucial they are. This article ranks the 20 greatest goalkeepers of all time, taking into account several factors which we have outlined below.
Longevity - If they performed at the top of the sport for a longer period, they have been ranked higher. Consistency of world-class performances - It sounds simple, but world-class performances week in and week out make a goalkeeper better. If they've done that throughout their career, they have been ranked highly.
Performances in finals - Finals are the most important matches of a player's career. If a goalkeeper has made a crucial save or been a significant contribution to them winning a trophy, they have been ranked higher. 20 Greatest Goalkeepers of All Time Ranking Name Professional Career 1.
Lev Yashin 1950 - 1970 2. Gianluigi Buffon 1995 - 2023 3. Manuel Neuer 2004 - Present 4.
Iker Casillas 1998 - 2020 5. Oliver Kahn 1987 - 2008 6. Petr Cech 1999 - 2019 7.
Peter Schmeichel 1981 - 2003 8. Edwin van der Sar 1990 - 2016 9. Alisson Becker 2013 - Present 10.
Gordon Banks 1958 - 1977 11. Pat Jennings 1963 - 1986 12. Dida 1992 - 2015 13.
David Seaman 1982 - 2004 14. Thibaut Courtois 2009 - Present 15. Hugo Lloris 2005 - Present 16.
Sepp Maier 1962 - 1980 17. Neville Southall 1973 - 2002 18. Dino Zoff 1961 - 1983 19.
Andoni Zubizarreta 1980 - 1998 20. Peter Shilton 1966 - 1997 David Raya and Alisson both feature among the 20 best goalkeepers in the Premier League right now. 20 Peter Shilton Peter Shilton is one of the best English goalkeepers ever.
He is most well-known for his contribution to Nottingham Forest's two European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980. Brian Clough heralded Shilton as one of his most important signings, as he also helped the East Midlands club secure the First Division title in 1978. Shilton made 125 appearances for his country, playing in some high-profile World Cup matches, including the quarter-final against Argentina, where Diego Maradona scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal past him.
Although he was unable to secure a major tournament for the Three Lions, he holds the record for the most caps for his country. Shilton Stats Years Team Appearances 1966-1974 Leicester City 348 1974-1977 Stoke City 121 1977-1982 Nottingham Forest 272 1982-1987 Southampton 242 1987-1992 Derby County 211 1992-1995 Plymouth Argyle 43 1995 Wimbledon 0 1995 Bolton Wanderers 2 1995-1996 Coventry City 0 1996 West Ham United 0 1996-1997 Leyton Orient 10 1970-1990 England 125 19 Andoni Zubizarreta Andoni Zubizarreta is a Spanish football legend, representing his country 126 times from 1985 to 1998. He played in seven major tournaments for his country, captaining his country to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
Zubizarretta also had an illustrious club career, playing for the likes of Barcelona, Valencia, and Athletic Bilbao. He won La Liga twice for the Basque side, including the league and cup double in the 1983/84 season, but his main success was in Catalonia. As a Barcelona player, Zubizarretta played an integral part in securing six La Liga titles, as well as the 1991/92 European Cup under the management of Johan Cruyff.
The Spanish goalkeeper was ahead of his time in terms of his ability with the ball at his feet and ease under pressure. Zubizarreta Stats Years Team Appearances 1981-1986 Athletic Bilbao 169 1986-1994 Barcelona 301 1994-1998 Valencia 152 1985-1998 Spain 126 18 Dino Zoff Dino Zoff was an ever-present member of the Juventus and Italy teams throughout the 1970s. His most notable achievement is undoubtedly his 1982 World Cup triumph for the Azzurri, where he captained the side to glory.
After finishing runner-up in 1970, it was looking as if Zoff would go his whole career without a World Cup triumph, but 1982 saw the legendary goalkeeper win the trophy at the age of 40. At club level, he was even more successful, winning six Serie A titles as well as two Coppa Italia titles and a UEFA Cup. The only thing that Zoff didn't tick off his resume was the European Cup.
He was a runner-up in 1973 and a decade later when Juventus lost to Hamburger SV. Zoff Stats Years Team Appearances 1961-1963 Udinese 41 1963-1967 Mantova 134 1967-1972 Napoli 189 1972-1983 Juventus 473 1968-1983 Italy 112 17 Neville Southall Neville Southall began his career in English football at Bury in 1980, before joining Everton a year later. Southall spent 17 years at the Merseyside club, winning two league titles, two FA Cups, and the 1984/85 European Cup Winners' Cup.
He remains the all-time record appearance holder for the Toffees and is still renowned as one of the best players in the club's history. In the 1980s, Southall was well-recognised as the best goalkeeper in English football. In the 1984/85 title-winning campaign, Southhall picked up the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year.
He also made 92 appearances for Wales, making his debut on 27th May 1982. Southall Stats Years Team Appearances 1980-1981 Bury 49 1981-1998 Everton 751 1983 Porto Vale 9 1997-1998 Southend United 9 1998 Stoke City 12 1998 Doncaster Rovers 9 1998-2000 Torquay United 61 2000 Bradford City 1 2001 York City 0 2001 Rhyl 3 1982-1997 Wales 92 16 Sepp Maier Sepp Maier is Bayern Munich's all-time record appearance holder, with 707 appearances for the Bavarian club. During his 18-year stint in southern Germany, Maier won four Bundesliga titles, four DFB-Pokal crowns and, most notably, a trio of European Cups.
The eccentric goalkeeper was recognised for his individual contributions on three occasions, picking up the German Footballer of the Year award in 1975, 1977, and 1978. Not only was Maier successful at club level, but he was also a multiple major tournament winner for West Germany. He won the UEFA European Championship in 1972 before winning the World Cup only two years later.
West Germany won the 1974 World Cup on home soil, beating their fierce international rivals , the Netherlands, 2-1 in the final. Maier Stats Years Team Appearances 1962-1980 Bayern Munich 706 1962-1979 West Germany 95 15 Hugo Lloris Hugo Lloris was at the heart of Tottenham's modern-day 'golden era' from 2012 until 2024. He was their captain under manager Mauricio Pochettino, providing experience in the key matches.
The Frenchman was a world-class goalkeeper season after season, with a string of penalty saves in the 2018/19 campaign helping Spurs secure Champions League football and reach the final. However, he never won a trophy with the Lilywhites, unlike his time as France captain. Lloris became a world champion with Les Bleus in 2018, and he was unfortunate to miss out on a second World Cup winner's medal four years later.
The former Tottenham captain was also a runner-up in the 2016 European Championships, but he was victorious in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. Lloris Stats Years Team Appearances 2005-2008 Nice 78 2008-2012 Lyon 202 2012-2024 Tottenham 447 2024-Present Los Angeles FC 46 2008-2022 France 145 14 Thibaut Courtois Thibaut Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers in the world . Real Madrid's number has stuffed his trophy cabinet while playing for the Spanish behemoths.
Courtois has won a pair of La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey, but his most impressive performance came in 2022 when he helped the club win the Champions League. Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1-0 in the final, but Courtois was named 'Player of the Match' after a string of fine saves. He walked into the club's history books.
Alongside this, he was a spectacular goalkeeper for rivals Atletico Madrid, winning the Europa League, and became Premier League champion with Chelsea in 2015 and 2017. Courtois Stats Years Team Appearances 2009-2011 Genk 45 2011-2018 Chelsea 154 2011-2014 (loan) Atletico Madrid 154 2018-Present Real Madrid 247 2011-Present Belgium 102 13 David Seaman David Seaman is widely regarded as one of England's greatest-ever goalkeepers . He made mistakes, including in the 2002 World Cup against Brazil, but he was incredibly consistent during his 24-year career.
The hulking Yorkshire native was one of the most recognisable players in the world due to his iconic ponytail and moustache combination, but he did most of his talking on the pitch. He played over 500 matches for Arsenal, winning three league titles and four FA Cups. Combined with one League Cup, Seaman had an incredible career in the English game, ranking him as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.
Seaman Stats Years Team Appearances 1982-1984 Peterborough 109 1984-1986 Birmingham 43 1986-1990 Queens Park Rangers 145 1990-2003 Arsenal 536 2003-2004 Manchester City 26 1988–2002 England 77 12 Dida Dida is widely considered the greatest Brazilian goalkeeper of all time - and he was the first goalkeeper from his country to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or. Dida was one of the best players in his position during the mid-2000s with AC Milan . The Rossoneri boasted a formidable line-up around this time and Dida was stood behind one of football's best defences, including Cafu, Jaap Stam, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini.
Throughout his career, he won one World Cup, one Copa America, two Champions Leagues and one Serie A title. With over 300 appearances for AC Milan, he is a walking legend. Dida Stats Years Team Appearances 1992–1993 Vitoria 24 1994–1998 Cruzeiro 120 1998–1999 Lugano 0 1999–2000 Corinthians 24 2000–2010 AC Milan 302 2001–2002 Corinthians (loan) 8 2012 Portuguesa 32 2013 Gremio 48 2014–2015 Internacional 29 1995-2006 Brazil 91 11 Pat Jennings Very few players are widely loved by Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.
Their fierce rivalry has been burning for decades, but Jennings played for both - and he was adored by both. He made over 450 appearances for Tottenham before making the switch to Arsenal for another 237 appearances. On the international front, only Steven Davis (140 appearances) has been capped more times by Northern Ireland than Jennings, who went on to work as a goalkeeper coach after ending his playing career following the briefest of stints with Everton in 1986.
Throughout his career, he won one UEFA Cup, two League Cups and two FA Cups. Jennings Stats Years Team Appearances 1963–1964 Watford 48 1964–1977 Tottenham Hotspur 472 1977–1985 Arsenal 237 1986 Everton 0 1964-1986 Northern Ireland 119 10 Gordon Banks 'Oh, what a save,' is one of the most memorable pieces of commentary in the history of sports media. Gordon Banks made the save in 1970, denying the legendary Pele with a save that the naked eye struggled to comprehend.
It remains one of the greatest saves of all time . He spent most of his playing career at Leicester and Stoke, winning one League Cup at both. However, his legacy is enhanced by his time with the England national team.
He helped the Three Lions win the World Cup in 1966, amassing 73 caps over the years, including that legendary match against Brazil in 1970. Banks Stats Years Team Appearances 1958–1959 Chesterfield 23 1959–1967 Leicester City 293 1967–1973 Stoke City 194 1967 Cleveland Stokers (loan) 7 1971 Hellenic (loan) 3 1977–1978 Fort Lauderdale Strikers 37 1977 St Patrick's Athletic (loan) 1 1963-1972 England 73 9 Alisson Becker Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp signed Alisson in 2018 to take them to the next level - and he did exactly that. After the disappointment of losing the 2018 Champions League final, the Brazilian brought new life to the team at Anfield, providing composure between the sticks.
Since arriving on Merseyside, Alisson has won one Champions League, one Premier League and a plethora of domestic cups. Utterly undroppable as long as he is fit and healthy, whenever the Brazilian leaves Liverpool he will go down as one of the club's greatest-ever players. Alisson followed his brother's footsteps to become a goalkeeper but has exceeded his older sibling and almost any other soul to have ever put on a pair of gloves.
Alisson Stats Years Team Appearances 2013-2016 Internacional 62 2016-2018 AS Roma 64 2018-Present Liverpool 276 2015-Present Brazil 70 We rank the best 25 footballers in the world right now - in order. 8 Edwin van der Sar Edwin van der Sar won 26 major trophies throughout his career. He was the oldest man to lift the Premier League during his days with Manchester United , which epitomised his longevity and talent as a goalkeeper.
The Dutchman still holds an impressive world record after going 1,311 minutes without conceding during the 2008/09 Premier League campaign. As a key figure for Sir Alex Ferguson, he made over 266 appearances for Man United, coming after impressive spells at Ajax and Fulham. Coupled with 130 appearances for his country, Van der Sar walks into this list as one of the best of all time.
Van der Sar Stats Years Team Appearances 1990–1999 Ajax 312 1999–2001 Juventus 88 2001–2005 Fulham 154 2005–2011 Manchester United 266 2016 VV Noordwijk 1 1994-2008 Netherlands 130 7 Peter Schmeichel Van der Sar is not the only Man United legend on this list. Peter Schmeichel is also widely considered one of the world's greatest-ever goalkeepers due to his 22-year playing career. Schmeichel was in goal when Denmark stunned the world by winning Euro 1992, and he then established his status as the world's best goalkeeper at Man United, where he enjoyed a hugely successful eight-year spell.
He left the club after winning the treble in 1999, but, coupled with his 121 appearances for Denmark and spells at Aston Villa and Manchester City, Schmeichel remains one of the best of all time. Schmeichel Stats Years Team Appearances 1987–1991 Brøndby 47 1991–1999 Manchester United 395 1999–2001 Sporting CP 52 2001–2002 Aston Villa 36 2002–2003 Manchester City 31 1987-2001 Denmark 121 6 Petr Cech Petr Cech goes down as one of the most iconic goalkeepers of all time in the Premier League . A serious head injury in 2006 left him with a fractured skull, but surgery and then a helmet allowed him to continue to play.
The injury didn't stop him from making world-class saves every week, guiding Chelsea to consistent success. The scrum-cap-sporting shot-stopper made 494 appearances for Chelsea, winning 18 major trophies with them, including four Premier League titles. Cech holds the record for the most clean sheets in Premier League history (202), with David James behind in second spot (169).
While Cech didn't always cover himself in glory during his four-year spell at Arsenal, his status as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation remains intact. Cech Stats Years Team Appearances 1999–2001 Chmel Blsany 31 2001–2002 Sparta Prague 39 2002–2004 Rennes 78 2004–2015 Chelsea 494 2015–2019 Arsenal 139 2002-2016 Czech Republic 124 5 Oliver Kahn Oliver Kahn is one of Germany's greatest-ever goalkeepers, showcased by his 86 appearances for his country. He was a colossus for Bayern Munich and Germany as an imposing figure, which saw him bellow instructions to the defence in front of him.
Kahn won eight Bundesliga titles with Bayern, six German Cups, and the UEFA Champions League in 2001 - two years after finding himself on the receiving end of Manchester United's extraordinary comeback at Camp Nou. Impressively, Kahn won the Golden Ball award at the 2002 World Cup after being named the tournament's best player, despite the fact Germany lost to Ronaldo's Brazil. Kahn Stats Years Team Appearances 1990–1994 Karlsruher SC 153 1994–2008 Bayern Munich 632 1995-2006 Germany 86 4 Iker Casillas Iker Casillas ' name is synonymous with the word 'world-class' during these conversations.
Through his 16 years at Real Madrid, he made a remarkable 725 appearances, winning three Champions League trophies and five La Liga titles. However, it was his work for Spain which was even more impressive. Casillas was at the heart of the team's dominance from 2008 to 2012, winning the Euros, World Cup and Euros again every two years.
The Spaniard provided composure and trust between the sticks, making him loved by coaches and fellow players. His career ended after suffering a heart attack while playing for Porto, but - thankfully - he made a full recovery. Casillas Stats Years Team Appearances 1999–2015 Real Madrid 725 2015–2020 FC Porto 156 2000-2016 Spain 167 3 Manuel Neuer Just like Casillas, Manuel Neuer has been one of the most consistent goalkeepers in the modern era.
In truth, he redefined the essence of the role of a goalkeeper, playing as a 'sweeper keeper' throughout his career. Rushing out of goal proved effective for him, helping his team dictate the tempo of matches. A centurion at international level, the confident custodian has made more than 500 appearances for Bayern Munich.
No goalkeeper in the history of Germany's top flight has ever kept more clean sheets than Neuer. Winning the World Cup in 2014 remains his greatest achievement, although he has also won the Champions League twice, in 2013 and 2020, with Bayern. Neuer Stats Years Team Appearances 2005-2011 Schalke 04 203 2011-Present Bayern Munich 540 2009-2024 Germany 124 Known for keeping the ball out of the net, some of these shot-stoppers actually have better goalscoring records than strikers.
2 Gianluigi Buffon Gianluigi Buffon famously went his entire career without winning the Champions League, part of a remarkable XI that never won the European Cup . He tried - and tried again - but he always failed to complete his one main mission. Despite this, he is still one of the greatest of all time.
He won 10 Serie A titles and six Italian Cups during his career with Juventus and Parma, highlighting his longevity in the game. He made his debut in 1995 and didn't retire until 2023, spanning 28 years. Buffon played a key role in Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph as well, allowing him to rank second on our list.
Buffon Stats Years Team Appearances 1995–2001 Parma 220 2001–2018 Juventus 656 2018–2019 Paris Saint-Germain 25 2019–2021 Juventus 29 2021–2023 Parma 45 1997-2018 Italy 176 1 Lev Yashin Lev Yashin is arguably the most famous figure in the history of goalkeeping. His name was used for the top award given out by France Football, named the Yashin Trophy . It was established in 2019 to celebrate the best-performing goalkeeper every year - and using Yashin's name highlights how good he was.
Nicknamed 'The Black Spider', the old Soviet Union and Dynamo Moscow icon remains the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Or - a feat which he achieved back in 1963. He made 358 appearances for Dynamo Moscow and 74 for the Soviet Union, even winning the 1960 Euros in the process. Yashin Stats Years Team Appearances 1950-1970 Dynamo Moscow 358 1954-1970 Soviet Union 74 GiveMeSport Key Statistic : Lev Yashin is still the only goalkeeper to have won the Ballon d'Or award.
All career stats courtesy of Transfermarkt and correct as of 30/12/2024..
