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…
How our experts decided the best goalkeepers in the world
This is a list that we update every few months, with our last tweak in September, in order to keep it up-to-date, fresh and current. We asked FourFourTwo's football experts to choose their top goalkeepers in the world, not just on current technical ability and form but taking into account their standing in the game over the past few years as well.
13 goalkeepers made the shortlist before we aggregated the scores to pick the top 10. 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 – while our list of the best players in the world right now covers those between the sticks. Let's go!
10. 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, the Valencia goalkeeper (on loan from Liverpool, of course) 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.
9. Unai Simon (Athletic Club)
Athletic Club are limited to only using players from the Basque Country, due to their self-enforced cantera policy – so it's perhaps no wonder that they produce such good options between the sticks.
While Alex Remiro is a quality custodian down the road in San Sebastian, Unai Simon has emerged as Spain's most reliable option in goal since Iker Casillas – which is no mean feat when you consider the likes of David Raya, David De Gea and others who have jostled for the jersey since the golden generation. Simon is composed, excellent with his feet and at 27, may have many more years as La Roja's designated keeper.
8. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
Breaker of English hearts Gianluigi Donnarumma is still just 25 years old. Sure, he broke through into senior football at an obscenely young age but to think he could go on for another decade (or two – look at Buffon) is mind-boggling.
The Paris Saint-Germain man is growing in leadership in France and still the undisputed man in goal for his country. Donnarumma is prone to the odd clanger – isn't everyone? – but the man for the big occasion, as his record shows.
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. The custodian is going from strength to strength and will likely be on this list for another few years yet, given that he's 29 – a spring chicken, in keepers' terms.
6. Emi Martinez (Aston Villa)
Yes, Aston Villa have dropped off this season. Yes, Emi Martinez has the occasional lapse of judgement. But still, there may not be a bigger big-game player in world football, right now.
And yes, we mean across the pitch. The two-time Yashin Trophy-winning No.1 has a catalogue of huge moments across his career and in the heat of the moment, you'd trust him with his life – especially from 12 yards. His relatively late blossoming following Arsenal's FA Cup run in 2020 suggests that there's plenty in the tank left, too.
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. David Raya (Arsenal)
David Raya took a little while to ascend to the very top of the Premier League, spending several years with Brentford before earning his big move to Arsenal. And since then the Spaniard has reached new heights, becoming Mikel Arteta’s trusted No.1 behind a stingy defence.
The Barcelona native is amongst the very best with the ball at his feet, able to play out from the back under pressure. His ability to play accurate long passes is particularly eye-catching and he often launches Arsenal attacks, another string to his impressive bow.
3. Ederson (Manchester City)
Under Pep Guardiola, Ederson has played a significant part in the revolution of the goalkeeper role, often acting as a playmaker from the deepest position on the pitch. The Brazilian is famed for his passing range more so than his shot-stopping, but he is an excellent keeper too.
Ederson proved a key signing for Guardiola in 2017, arriving from Benfica and taking Manchester City’s buildup play to a new level as one of the Premier League’s most dominant ever teams was formed.
2. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
Few goalkeepers step up as often as Thibaut Courtois when it matters most. The towering Belgian has produced some spectacular performances in Champions League finals, helping Real Madrid to two titles with one particularly memorable performance against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in 2022.
Injuries have been a problem for Courtois in recent years but he remains one of the world’s best goalkeepers, a remarkable shot-stopper and a perennial winner. While he may not be as good with his feet as the likes of Ederson and Manuel Neuer, he more than makes up for it with his unique ability to keep the ball out of the net.
1. Alisson Becker (Liverpool)
As reliable as goalkeepers come, Alisson has been exceptional at the top level for several years now, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best ever No.1s since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018.
At 32, there is likely plenty more to come from the Brazilian, who has 71 caps to his name for Selecao Canarinho at the time of writing. Having excelled under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, Alisson will be aiming for more silverware following the arrival of Arne Slot.
