The best goalkeepers in the world used to be simple to define – but the position has evolved so much in the last decade or so.
30 years ago, custodians used to be the madmen and mavericks of your club, throwing themselves in front of shots and being the last line of defence. Well now, they're so much more: they're the first line of attack, another outfielder in buildup and the position has evolved to new heights. It made deciding this list difficult to say the least…
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How our experts decided the best goalkeepers in the world
To decide the best goalkeepers in the world, we asked our esteemed team of experts at FourFourTwo to consider their picks, coming up with a shortlist of 16, before whittling it down to just 10. We based this on their current technical ability and form but took into account their standing in the game over the past few years as well.
We ran exactly the same poll across all positions of the pitch, too. If you're looking for defence, we've ranked the best right-backs in the world, the best left-backs in the world and the best centre-backs in the world.
Further ahead of them, we've got midfielders, including the best defensive midfielders in the world, the best central midfielders in the world and these are the best attacking midfielders in the world. In attack, we've compiled the best right-wingers in the world, the best left-wingers in the world and the best strikers in the world.
And, if you're looking for the best goalkeeper gloves to buy, then we've got you covered. Let's go!
10. Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
At times erratic and always unpredictable, for Martinez to make this list in spite of having the odd rick in him is a testament to just how good he is when he is at his best. The Argentina and Aston Villa number one is a particular monster for gobbling up crosses, and there is probably nobody else in world football you would rather face less in a penalty shootout.
Martinez proved his value on that front once again in 2024, first ensuring Villa’s passage to the Conference League semi-finals against Lille and then helping Argentina get through the Copa America quarter-finals against Ecuador despite Lionel Messi putting a Panenka off the crossbar with the country’s first strike.
9. Giorgi Mamardashvili (Valencia, on loan from Liverpool)
Goalkeepers generally peak in their early 30s, so it's scary to think just how good Mamardashvili could become when considering he's still a decade away from hitting that point in his career. While physically imposing and standing at 6ft 6in tall, Valencia goalkeeper is not only extremely adept at claiming high balls in his box and demanding the penalty area, but also at reaching low balls that are generally more difficult for taller goalkeepers.
Euro 2024 proved Mamardashvili's breakthrough into the mainstream footballing discourse, however, with performances between the sticks for Georgia helping the minnows to reach the knockout stages. A move to one of Europe's giants seems only a matter of time for the highly-rated and extremely talented individual.
8. Unai Simon (Athletic Club)
First choice for Spain at the Euros, and deservedly so after another brilliant season for Athletic, who ranked behind only Real Madrid for goals conceded after shipping less than a goal per game.
Simon himself kept clean sheets in half his La Liga appearances last season – despite playing through much of the campaign with a wrist injury that has now ruled him out of the first half of the new season after he finally went under the knife to have him corrected.
Simon has also developed a new-found proclivity for saving penalties over the past couple of years, keeping out four of the last six he has faced.
7. Mike Maignan (Milan)
Now established as France’s number one following Hugo Lloris’ retirement from the national setup, Maignan played every game at Euro 2024 and was named as the best goalkeeper at the tournament after conceding just three goals in six games – two of which were to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Maignan has not played for Milan as much as he might have liked in 2024 thanks to various injury issues, but has been missed when he’s been gone.
6. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Courtois had to fight back from a long lay-off with a cruciate ligament injury this year, only returning to action for Real Madrid in May, but he does not look to have lost a step whatsoever: Courtois did not concede a single goal in his five appearances at the end of last season, including a shutout in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Still just an extraordinarily reliable shot-stopper, Courtois has a save percentage, clean sheet percentage, and performance against expected goals that put him right towards (or even at) the top of the pile on every count. The Belgian has fallen out with national team coach Domenico Tedesco, however, meaning his international career is on hold for now.
5. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
The veteran shotstopper returned to action after a year out with a broken leg last season and while he may not still be the revolutionary game-changer he was a decade ago, Neuer proved he is still up there with the very best, not least during a string of excellent performances for Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stages.
He notched up his 500th Bundesliga appearance at the end of last season before returning to the Germany national team for Euro 2024, where he started all of the host nations games on the way to a quarter-final defeat. He has since announced his retirement from international football, so goalkeeping technicians will want to cherish him while they still can.
4. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
The Italian No.1 wasn’t able to replicate his Euro 2020 heroics during this year’s tournament in Germany as the Azzurri slumped to a last-16 defeat at the hands of Switzerland after what had been a spotty season for the 25-year-old.
On his day, Donnarumma is a top-tier shotstopper of prototypical size and agility, but individual mistakes and errors on the ball are habits that the Paris Saint-Germain man needs to kick if he is to return to his best form in 2024/25.
3. David Raya (Arsenal)
A year ago, David Raya was the centre of a tedious debate over Arsenal’s situation between the sticks, as he looked to displace fan favourite Aaron Ramsdale. Now, he’s the Gunners’ player of the season.
Raya’s influence has grown such that the club’s entire goalkeeping department has been restructured around his strengths. The Spaniard’s cross-claiming is immaculate, his distribution the very model of a modern professional and recently, his shot-stopping has risen another level, with a percentage of 88.5, according to FBref, ranking him third in Europe for keepers to have played every minute so far. There’s no debate anymore over Raya.
2. Ederson (Manchester City)
Manchester City star Ederson picked up a sixth Premier League winners’ medal last season, underlining his importance in one of the most dominant teams English football has ever seen. One of the best keepers in the world with his feet, Ederson has been a vital cog in Pep Guardiola’s winning machine, although the 31-year-old has been the subject of recent speculation of transfer links to Saudi Arabia.
A fractured eye socket ruled him out of this summer’s Copa America, denying him the chance to renew his battle for the Brazil No.1 shirt with his Premier League rival Alisson – but he’s started the season well once more, with another assist for Erling Haaland against Brentford highlighting just how good he is with his feet.
1. Alisson (Liverpool)
He’s still No.1. Is it outrageous to suggest he’s the best goalkeeper of the last 10 years?
Not for our money. If goalkeepers these days are split between the modern and the throwback, Liverpool’s consistent Brazilian is the perfect blend: everything you’d want with the ball at his feet, both in long-range and short-range passing, with the shot-stopping acumen to match. And actually, that side of his game doesn’t get enough credit, at all: Alisson has once again started the Premier League season with a save percentage of 90, the most in the division once more.
The future might be uncertain, with Mamardashvili set to arrive at Anfield next season as things stand. But Alisson is still just 31 years old – and having been the undisputed best in England almost from Day 1 of his arrival in 2018, he’s still got a lot more to give. Either way, he’s going down as one of the greats.
