The 20 best goalkeepers in football history

Goalkeepers occupy a distinct place in football—often seen as eccentric, fearless, and unlike any other players on the pitch. Only a handful of keepers rise above the rest, whether through jaw-dropping saves, commanding presence or moments of pure brilliance. Let’s celebrate 20 of the greatest shot-stoppers ever to stand between the sticks!

Considered the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the game, the Soviet Lev Yashin (1929-1990) is the only one in this position to have ever won the Ballon d'Or (the prize for the best player in Europe), in 1963. Winner of numerous individual and collective trophies with Dynamo Moscow and the USSR team, he gave his name to the award for the best goalkeeper of the season.

Gordon Banks made history as England's goalkeeper during their triumphant 1966 World Cup victory on home soil. However, he is best remembered for producing the legendary "save of the century" against Pelé in the following tournament. Known as "Banks of England" for his reliability and composure, he was a true pillar of security for his teams.

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With his lightning-fast reflexes and ability to contribute to his team’s buildup play, Manuel Neuer redefined the goalkeeper position and became one of the best of the 2010s. A product of Schalke 04, he has won 28 trophies with Bayern Munich, including two Champions League titles, and played a key role in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph.

Italian Dino Zoff is also considered one of the biggest names in the history of the position. During his exceptionally long career, the goalkeeper won six Italian championships, and the World Cup with the Azzurri in 1982. Voted European goalkeeper of the year four times, he then went on to be a successful coach.

Trained in Genk, Thibaut Courtois experienced an irresistible rise after moving from Atlético to Real Madrid via Chelsea. Man of the match in the 2022 Champions League final, he won the 2022 Yashin trophy while finishing 7th in the Ballon d'Or rankings.

Born in 1944, Sepp Maier was, alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller, one of the pillars of German football in the 1970s. In addition to the Euro–World Cup double (1972 and 1974), he was a three-time European Cup champion with Bayern Munich. After hanging up his boots, he became goalkeeper coach for the national team and then Bayern, where he trained another legend, Oliver Kahn.

Peter Schmeichel's name is of course inseparable from Denmark's surprise victory at Euro 1992, but is almost equally synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United, which he left after the snatch victory against Bayern in the Champions League final in 1999. His son Kasper also became a successful goalkeeper.

French football fans still have cold sweats about José Luis Chilavert! In the round of 16 of the 1998 home World Cup, 'Les Bleus' were unable to find a way past the Paraguayan until Laurent Blanc's golden goal in extra time. Considered one of the best goalkeepers of the 1990s, Chilavert also made a name for himself as a goalscoring free-kick specialist. He also often took penalties, scoring 67 goals in his professional career (per Transfermarkt).

An absolute legend of German football, Oliver Kahn was a goalkeeper with a strong character and a solid mind. Kahn won 23 trophies in the Bayern Munich jersey. However, he came up short on the biggest stage, losing to a Brazil team bolstered by Ronaldo and Ronaldinho in the World Cup 2002 final.

A mainstay of the triumphant Ajax side of the 1990s, Edwin van der Sar also kept goal with distinction for Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. In addition to his well-filled trophy cabinet, the Dutchman has accumulated records that showcase his incredible longevity (1,311 consecutive minutes in the Premier League and more than 50 Champions League matches, per Opta).

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Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak has been a key figure in Atlético Madrid’s success since joining the club in 2014. With his reliable performances, he played a crucial role in their Europa League triumph in 2018 and their La Liga title win in 2021, finishing ahead of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. 'Los Colchoneros' owe much of their achievements to their steadfast shot-stopper.

Legendary goalkeeper for the France team during the World Cup–Euro double between 1998 and 2000, Fabien Barthez also had a brilliant club career between Marseille, Monaco and Manchester United. His bald head that Laurent Blanc came to kiss at the start of each international match and his famous puppet in the 'Guignols de l'info' satirical TV show have made him a popular idol beyond his performances on the pitch.

Victorious at the 2002 World Cup (albeit as an unused substitute), the Brazilian goalkeeper Dida was also one of the strong men of the great AC Milan side, two-time winners of the Champions League in 2003 and 2007. Sometimes clumsy, Dida was always able to raise his level of play in decisive moments.

Blocked by the unbeatable Manuel Neuer in the national team, Marc-André ter Stegen has nevertheless successfully kept goal for FC Barcelona since 2014, when he won the Champions League in his first season. Neuer's age and ter Stegen's consistency at the highest level should now allow him to finally establish himself as the Mannschaft's number one.

How could we make a top 20 of the best goalkeepers in history without mentioning "Gigi" Buffon? The Italian goalkeeper played for more than 25 years with an elegance matched only by his longevity. He came through at Parma, where he returned in 2021, having spent 17 seasons at Juventus, during which time he won the 2006 World Cup with the Azzurri. The only downside in his career: he never managed to win the Champions League.

Czech Petr Cech was the last lock in José Mourinho's impregnable Chelsea defense in the 2000s. After winning the Champions League with the Blues in 2012, he ended his career at Arsenal. A skull fracture in the middle of a match in 2006 forced him to play the rest of his career with a helmet that became his hallmark.

Born in 1986, Keylor Navas took time to gain widespread recognition. He truly made his mark during the 2014 World Cup, helping Costa Rica reach the quarter-finals. That same year, he joined Real Madrid, where he replaced Iker Casillas as the starting goalkeeper and played a key role in winning three consecutive Champions League titles. In 2019, Navas moved to PSG.

Another Frenchman joins the list! Hugo Lloris may have retired from international football, but he will always be remembered as the iconic captain of Didier Deschamps' squad that won the 2018 World Cup. Born in Nice and developed at Lyon, Lloris spent over a decade at Tottenham, where he led the team to their only Champions League final in 2019.

Bought for 62.5 million euros (US $66.5m) by Liverpool from AS Roma in 2018, Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker stabilized the defense of the Reds, who won the Champions League the following season, then the Premier League, which had eluded them for 30 years, in 2020.

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Iker Casillas was the guardian of La Roja’s goal during Spain’s historic Euro–World Cup–Euro triumph from 2008 to 2012. He also spanned two eras of Real Madrid’s 'Galácticos'. From winning the 2002 Champions League alongside Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo and Raúl to lifting the trophy again in 2014 under Cristiano Ronaldo’s leadership, Casillas cemented his legacy as one of the finest goalkeepers of the 2000s.