The top 10 best goalkeepers in the world right now

Goal scorers traditionally get all the headlines, but games are won by the guys in between the sticks. Huge moments are defined by goalkeepers in 90 minutes, and having one of the world’s top shot-stoppers as your number one can be the difference between winning and losing.

Here are the 10 best goalkeepers in the world right now.

10. Jan Oblak, Atletico Madrid and Slovenia

Oblak was a key part of Atletico Madrid’s title-winning charge last year, as he kept clean sheets in 47.4% of their 38 games in La Liga.

While this season has not been quite to that level, Oblak won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy – awarded to the keeper in La Liga with the lowest goals-to-game ratio – in five of the last six years.

9. Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal and England

At 23, Aaron Ramsdale could be England’s number one keeper by the time World Cup 2022 in Qatar arrives.

The young star signed for Arsenal in the summer for a record transfer of up to £30 million, and in his eight league games this season, he has saved 86.2% of the 29 shots he’s faced, keeping five clean sheets so far.

8. David De Gea, Manchester United and Spain

David De Gea’s star has lost some shine as Manchester United’s troubles continue, but there is no doubt his shot-stopping ability keeps him on this list.

Despite United’s woes, there were only 23 keepers across Europe’s top five leagues that kept more clean sheets than De Gea, and he showed how valuable he is already this year, when he saved Mark Noble’s last-minute penalty in a 2-1 win over West Ham.

7. Alisson, Liverpool and Brazil

Alisson was crowned Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2019, and he went on to help Liverpool end a 30-year wait for a league title. He kept a clean sheet in the final of the Champions League, as Liverpool won their sixth European Cup.

He also became the first keeper to score a match-winning goal when he headed home against West Brom in May 2021. The Brazilian really can do it all.

6. David Ospina, Napoli and Colombia

The Colombian number one may not have been a favorite for Arsenal fans during his time there, but since leaving in 2018, he’s had a resurgence of form with Napoli and was an integral part of their Coppa Italia-winning run last season.

Last year, he saved 76.9% of shots he faced in the league, and that stat has risen to a huge 87.5% this season.

5. Mike Maignan, AC Milan and France

Maignan is another young keeper rapidly rising through the ranks, and it would be no shock if he were to be France’s number one in the not-so-distant future.

After coming through the youth teams at PSG, he joined Lille and was named Ligue 1’s number one keeper in 2018-19.

Last year, he kept more clean sheets than any keeper in Europe’s top five leagues (55.3%) and helped Lille to their first title in 10 years.

He joined AC Milan in the summer and has kept out 82.6% of shots that have come his way this year.

4. Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG and Italy

Donnarumma became Italy’s youngest ever keeper in 2016 at just 17 years and 189 days, and it has been a non-stop rise to the top.

He saved a penalty in the shoot-out against Spain in the Euro 2020 semifinal and then saved two spot kicks in the final against England, instantly becoming the nation’s hero. Now the young keeper is with PSG and is widely considered one of the most exciting keepers of his generation.

3. Edouard Mendy, Chelsea and Senegal

Chelsea’s number one has only been with the club for a year but has already become a hero figure.

In his first Premier League season, he kept 16 clean sheets, along with a record-tying nine clean sheets in the Champions League, as Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0 to win their second European Cup.

He has a 93.1% save success rate this season, which is the highest in Europe.

2. Ederson, Manchester City and Brazil

The winner of the last two Premier League Golden Gloves, it’s hard not to include Ederson in the top two.

Established as Man City and Brazil's number one shot-stopper, he is already a three-time Premier League winner, four-time League Cup winner, FA Cup winner, and Copa America winner.

He has kept 25 clean sheets in his last 46 league games — a European high 54.3%

1. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid and Belgium

Courtois is arguably the greatest keeper in the world right now. A three-time Zamora Trophy winner and Premier League Golden Glove winner, Courtois was crowned the best FIFA Keeper in 2018, and his performances haven’t dropped since.

No keeper in Europe had a better save percentage than Courtois last year (81.1%), as he saved 90 of the 111 shots that came his way. Madrid are struggling this year, but there is no doubt that Courtois is one of the greatest between the sticks.