Keeping clean sheets and making some of the biggest saves are some of the criteria used to rate the best goalkeepers in the world. But who is the current No. 1 goalkeeper?
Over the past decades, we’ve had the opportunity to watch some of the most outstanding goalies, from iconic names like Edwin van der Sar, Oliver Kahn, and Iker Casillas to Lev Yashin.
However, modern football has ushered in some of the most talented players who have made a name for themselves on the biggest stage.
Here are the best goalkeepers in the world of football right now.
20. Senne Lammens (Manchester United FC and Belgium)
Why we ranked him: The young Belgian goalkeeper has been blowing hot with his impressive start to his career at Manchester United. The youngster has single-handedly won over the position of a starter and likely the new first-choice goalkeeper alongside Altay Bayındır.
Senne Lammens joined United from Belgian club Royal Antwerp during the 2025 summer transfer window. Since then, he has shown to be a reliable goalkeeper for the team with his reflexes, saves and consistency. Statistics show that the young Belgian goalkeeper has made significant saves, especially in big games, and has helped the club keep up with the pace in the Premier League.
The Premier League giants will be banking on the brilliance of Senne Lammens and Altay Bayındır as they aim to maintain top-level football following years of ups and downs in the team.
19. Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur and Italy)
Why we ranked him: Guglielmo Vicario is arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the English Premier League due to his consistency in goal for Tottenham Hotspur.
He has made significant contributions since his arrival at the club in 2013. So far, he has shown to be a reliable option in goal for the Spurs.
18. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic (Napoli and Serbia)
Why we ranked him: Well, this big player has consistently made some of the biggest saves that helped Napoli command a presence and become the new giant in Italian football.
Vanja Milinkovic-Savic is currently on loan from fellow Serie A side Torino for the rest of the 2025/2026 football season and has already established himself as a key addition to the team.
Statistics had revealed that Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has helped Napoli to fit into the position of the best defence in the Italian Serie A this season with his record and decent number of clean sheets.
17. Jordan Pickford (Everton FC and England)
Why we ranked him: Jordan Pickford played a key role in Everton’s survival last season. He was voted as one of the best in the Premier League.
This season has been unimpressive. However, the English goalkeeper has made some significant saves to keep the Toffees in a solid position to retain their top-flight status.
16. Ederson (Fenerbahçe and Brazil)
Why we ranked him: The former No. 1 goalie The Man City goalkeeper is currently in the books of Fenerbahçe. But he was one of the most influential players at the club.
That said, Ederson has consistently ranked among the top shot-stoppers in the Premier League and has rarely shown to be unreliable in the Man City setup.
15. Giorgi Mamardashvili (Liverpool FC and Georgia)
Why we ranked him: Giorgi Mamardashvili is one of the new names on the list. The Georgian footballer has already shown some flashes of brilliance at Liverpool FC. He signed for the Reds and was initially on loan to Valencia in La Liga, where his performance was enough to consider him for a place in the first team and potential first choice.
Although his role in the first team is limited with the presence of Alisson Becker, he is expected to be a long-term replacement for the Brazilian.
14. Mile Svilar (AS Roma and Serbia)
Why we ranked him: Mile Svilar has continued to receive wide recommendations for his performance. The AS Roma number one goalkeeper is often regarded as one of the highest-rated goalkeepers in European football.
Mile Svilar had a fine season in the 2024/25 campaign, where he was presented with the Best Goalkeeper award in the Italian Serie A at the end of the campaign. Statistics revealed that he recorded 16 clean sheets and had up to 118 saves.
13. Diogo Costa (FC Porto and Portugal)
Why we ranked him: Diogo Costa also makes the list today with his outstanding contributions to the team. He has won two league titles with FC Porto since making his first-team debut.
Diogo Costa has been a key addition to the Porto defence, as his shot-stopping abilities have helped the club maintain a good defensive record in the domestic scene. Young and agile, he has been tipped to challenge for the top spot in the national team.
12. Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland)
Why we ranked him: Gregor Kobel has gradually positioned himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world with his impressive numbers at Borussia Dortmund over the years.
The Switzerland footballer has consistently maintained his position in goal for Dortmund. He would be credited for his role during the 2023/24 season.
11. Unai Simon (Athletic Club Bilbao and Spain)
Why we ranked him: Unai Simon is the undisputed number-one goalkeeper of the Spanish Men’s National Team. He earned his place in the first team at the World Cup in Qatar.
The 25-year-old plays for Athletic Club Bilbao in Spanish La Liga and has been in the first team of the Red and Whites since he was promoted from the reserves in 2018.
He has been rock solid and played a key role as Spain won the UEFA European Football Championship trophy.
10. Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa and Argentina)
Why we ranked him: Emi Martinez deserves a place among the elite goalkeepers. He was arguably one of the most influential players during the last World Cup in Qatar.
He (Martinez) was handed The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and the FIFA World Cup Golden Glove to mark his contributions to his team’s final triumph.
Back to the main discussion, Emi switched to Villa Park after he was not guaranteed a place to start at Arsenal. He has been considered reasonable in the league for his new club, despite question marks on his inclusion as one of the best.
9. Joan Garcia (FC Barcelona and Spain)
Why we ranked him: Joan Garcia has already established himself as a key part of the FC Barcelona first team since his arrival at the club. But what was the merit and the reason behind his highly rated Barca move?
Joan Garcia is an Espanyol youth graduate. He successfully broke into the first team in 2021 and eventually earned his place as the first choice in 2024.
Joan played a significant role that led to the sustainment of Español's top-flight status with his impressive shot-stopping abilities.
According to statistics, Joan Garcia played almost every minute and made some remarkable saves, a performance that led to a Barcelona move after the club activated his €25 million release clause, which includes taxes.
8. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Why we ranked him: Manuel Neuer needs no introduction to European football. The German has been part of Bayern Munich for more than a decade.
He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. However, injuries lately have hampered his place in the team.
The German and Bayern Munich legend is often credited with the idea of the sweeper keeper in world football. Throughout his career, he has won numerous awards and trophies.
7. Mike Maignan (AC Milan and France)
Why we ranked him: Arguably one of the best goalkeepers in Europe, Mike Maignan is slowly cementing his position as the number one spot in the French men’s football team. The AC Milan player is known for making outstanding saves and keeping clean sheets.
Mike Maignan is currently one of the most experienced goalkeepers in world football, ranked as one of the best in the Italian Serie A.
Mike Maignan had his personal best during 2021/22 when he went on to win the Serie A Best Goalkeeper award that season. The Frenchman has continued to be a big player and an influence in the team.
6. Yann Sommer (Inter Milan and Switzerland)
Why we ranked him: Yann Sommer is known for his outstanding saves at Borussia Monchengladbach and his influence in the team since 2014, before his eventual move to Bayern Munich in 2022.
Bayern’s top hierarchy saw the Swiss as a top goalkeeper to play alongside Manuel Neuer.
Now at Inter Milan, he has continued to impress with good numbers week in, week out. He went all out to establish a personal record of most clean sheets in the Italian Serie A in the first few games.
5. Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid and Serbia)
Why we ranked him: Jan Oblak has been a long-standing player at Atlético Madrid. The Slovenian has played a significant role in the team after almost a decade at the club.
The Rojiblancos had a poor outing in the Champions League and a slow start in La Liga. However, the veteran goalkeeper has influenced the team’s revival and the quest to return to the top level.
4. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City and Italy)
Why we ranked him: After helping PSG to win its first UEFA Champions League title, Gianluigi Donnarumma decided to head for the exit door, with Manchester City as the next destination for his career.
The former AC Milan goalie has established himself as one of Europe’s top-rated goalkeepers due to his shot-stopping abilities.
In the French Ligue 1, he made some of the best saves, even though some would have believed PSG’s defence would be impenetrable due to the presence of high-profile players at the back.
Now at Manchester City, he has already proven to be part of City's defensive wall that has already been tipped to challenge for the Premier League title despite a slow start to the league campaign.
3. David Raya (Arsenal FC and Spain)
Why we ranked him: David Raya has positioned himself at Arsenal as the unchangeable number one option since his arrival from Brentford FC, where he also maintained the undisputed position as thestarter in the team for several seasons.
Raya has also consistently maintained his position as one of the best goalkeepers in the English Premier League over the years. In the last couple of seasons, the Spaniard has been the face of the Arsenal defence.
He has played a key role in powering Mikel Arteta's ambitions and the quest for a Premier League title after previous unsuccessful attempts.
David Raya is known for his calmness, consistency and strength.
2. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid CF and Belgium)
Why we ranked him: It would be tough to leave out the Belgian in the top spot. He has been magnificent for Los Blancos since his arrival in the summer of 2018.
Thibaut Courtois has filled the void left by club legend Iker Casillas with his world-class shot-stopping and passing abilities.
Perhaps being named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper and FIFA FIFPro World 11 clarifies his position as one of the best goalies currently. He has been crucial for the Los Blancos in their Champions League campaign.
1. Alisson Becker (Liverpool FC and Brazil)
Why we ranked him: One good aspect of the veteran is his consistent and regular putting in of a good shift when it matters. It is true Liverpool has endured a troubled season which sees them miles away from European places.
Despite the team’s struggles, the Brazilian has maintained his level and is one of the best players on the team.
Alison is world-class, as he has continued to thrive in areas such as passing, shot-stopping, attacking moves, and a high rate of success in one-on-one duels.
In case you don't know, here are some of the greatest goalkeepers in the world
Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
Lev Yashin is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. He is the only goalkeeper to ever win the Ballon d’Or (1963) and was known for his revolutionised goalkeeping with his athleticism, reflexes, and proactive style.
Gianluigi Buffon (Italy)
Gianluigi Buffon was known for his long-term career and consistency at the highest level for over two decades, winning the 2006 World Cup with Italy and multiple Serie A titles with Juventus.
Iker Casillas (Spain)
Iker Casillas was one of the most influential players in Spain’s golden era, winning two European Championships (2008, 2012) and the 2010 World Cup.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Neuer was arguably one of the best in history, credited for his “sweeper-keeper” style and ability to play with the ball at his feet as well as shot-stopping. He won the 2014 World Cup with Germany and also won the UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.
Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
Peter Schmeichel is one of the biggest names, especially at Manchester United, where he was famous for his commanding presence. He won the Euro 1992 with Denmark and was a key player of United’s treble-winning side in 1999.