Happy New Year everyone! I'm going to start the year off by going through who the best goalkeepers in the world are right now as we head into 2023. These guys are the last line of defense and can be the difference between winning and losing.
Best Goalkeepers in the World
The modern goalkeeper has evolved from a basic shot stopping role to becoming more important than ever before. Goalkeepers are effectively becoming like another outfield player, starting off plays and taking part in the build-up phase of an attack from the back.
Let's take a look at the 10 best goalkeepers in the world right now:
10. Wojciech Szczesny
On the back of a strong World Cup, Polish keeper Wojciech Szczesny is one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The former error-prone Arsenal keeper has turned his career around and become one of the most dependable goalkeepers in the Europe at Juventus. It seems being an understudy to Gianluigi Buffon has served him well.
Szczesny has become a specialist at saving penalties, is a dependable shot stopper and very commanding in the air. He single-handedly kept Poland in the World Cup in what was a truly remarkable tournament for the Pole.
Most saves made at the 2022 World Cup:
◉ 25 - Dominik Livaković ◉ 23 - Wojciech Szczesny Most saves made in a single game at the 2022 World Cup ◉ 11 - Livaković vs. #BRA ◉ 9 - Szczesny vs. #ARG@midnite | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/uo5tFKUqoKDecember 19, 2022 — Squawka (@Squawka)
9. Manuel Neuer
World champion Manuel Neuer has revolutionized the way the "sweeper-keeper" role is played. The big game player has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for well over a decade now.
He's combined exceptional reflexes with a playing style that's set him apart from others. He's one of the most effective keepers in history when coming off his line to challenge opposition attackers into missing.
Neuer's sweeping ability is legendary. He's able to clear loose balls with ease and his passing game is as good as any outfield player which has allowed his team to press deep in their opponents half.
In recent years Neuer's form has been impacted by recurring foot injuries. A freak skiing injury ended his season right after a disappointing 2022 World Cup campaign which could see him decline even further.
Manuel Neuer's best saves 🚫🚫🚫
(📽: @Bundesliga_EN)pic.twitter.com/qcoEUa8OYZMarch 27, 2019 — GOAL (@goal)
8. Yassine Bounou
Yassine Bounou is another player who had a phenomenal World Cup and has fast become one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
The Sevilla keeper had a breakout tournament leading Morocco to the semifinals on the back of three clean sheets. During the 2021/22 season he had the best shot-to-save ratio in La Liga.
Bounou has the ability to produce stunning saves on a consistent basis. The 6-foot-5 shot stopper is strong in one-on-one situations, has elite positioning, is excellent in the air and at getting to the ground quickly.
2 SAVES IN PKS FOR THE WIN
Yassine Bounou put Morocco on his back 🔒 pic.twitter.com/eG8piEN5Z0December 6, 2022 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport)
7. Mike Maignan
Losing Gianluigi Donnarumma to PSG was devastating for AC Milan. French goalkeeper Mike Maignan arrived from Lille for €15 million and he’s since turned out to be a more well-rounded goalkeeper.
Maignan has proven he's one of the best goalkeepers in the world with his lightning quick reflexes thats earned him the Serie A Golden Glove, keeping 17 clean sheets during the 2021-22 season.
One of the skills that has Maignan as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and number one in Serie A, is his ability to act almost like a third centre-back. He does it with so much skill and confidence that his team pushes up the field further which creates more scoring opportunities.
Mike Maignan’s saves are even more impressive in person. The speed in which he reacts to anything is a cheat code.
February 6, 2022 — Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti)
6. Marc-André ter Stegen
Marc-André ter Stegen is another top-class keeper in the long German goalkeeping production line. Despite the turmoil at Barcelona in recent years, ter Stegen has been consistent considering the dramas at the club.
Ter Stegen has been able to complement Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of play with his amazing footwork. He could arguably hold his own playing as an outfield player with his elite passing game.
The Germans commanding sweeper-keeper style of play has been integral to complimenting Barcelona’s fluid play, and his quick reflexes and acrobatics has saved his side on many occasions.
Bayern fans might attack me for this, but prime Ter Stegen was better than any version of Neuer.pic.twitter.com/3n6VFxBKKN
December 20, 2022 — 🇺🇾™ (@BCMzema)
5. Emiliano Martinez
Emiliano Martinez’s stocks have risen thanks to a very successful 2022 World Cup campaign. The former Arsenal keeper couldn’t break through at the Gunners and was even sent out on loan as a League Two emergency cover at one point.
A £20 million pound move to Aston Villa in 2020 saw him earn a club record 15 clean sheets in his first season at his new club. Martinez is helping to buck a trend of South America only producing top midfield and attacking talent.
Argentina would not have won the World Cup without his heroic clutch saves, and the winner of the tournament's Golden Glove award always steps his game up during pressure situations, and especially during penalty shootouts.
Martinez has exceptional reflexes and is comfortable against anything inside the box. His positioning is world class and most importantly, he's proven dependable and rarely makes an error.
Campeones del mundo 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/jBr7GnRkLG
December 18, 2022 — Emi Martínez (@emimartinezz1)
4. Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak has transformed Atletico Madrid into one of the hardest teams to crack in Europe. He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world thanks to his reflexes and acrobatic saves.
Oblak is more of a traditional shot-stopper as opposed to a sweep-keeper, and he isn’t as comfortable as others playing the ball out from the back. He however has impeccable positioning which combined with his reflexes has led to some outrageous saves.
The Slovenian captain is able to command from the back, can read the game very well, has speed and the ability to come off his line to collect a cross, is well composed, and is overall a consistent and confident goalkeeper with amazing ability.
Jan Oblak, one of the best shot stoppers in football history pic.twitter.com/80UIZLnq1E
September 26, 2021 — Gasipo (@gasipo_opinions)
3. Ederson
Ederson has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since joining Manchester City in 2017. He’s arguably the greatest player right now with the ball at his feet and distributing the ball from the back.
During the 2021-22 season Edersen had completed 99% of his short passes and was the only starting goalkeeper in the Premier League to complete over 50% of his long passes - completing 59.3% of his attempts.
His world class distribution aside, Edersen has insane reflexes, is calm and composed with the ball, organizes his defense well and has superb decision making ability when coming out of his penalty area to perform sweeps.
The pass from Ederson and the finish by Ilkay Gundogan 🤩#GoalOfTheDay x @ManCity pic.twitter.com/5kTYNj5lFB
February 3, 2022 — Premier League (@premierleague)
2. Thibaut Courtois
The 6-foot-6 Real Madrid keeper won a Premier League title and the Golden Glove with Chelsea, before becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history, signing with Real Madrid for £35 million.
In an era where goalkeepers are expected to be another outfield player, Courtois isn’t the sort of keeper that will charge off his line as a first choice, nor is his distribution as pretty as others. He has however proven that he does have sweeper ability, and the 2021-22 Yashin Trophy winner has arguably the best reflexes and agility in the game.
Despite conceding 15.8 shots per game, Courtois managed to win the Champions League with Real Madrid. It was a campaign in which he made more saves in 13 Champions League games than Ederson did in 37 Premier League games. His ability to consistently shot-stop the most difficult of shots makes him one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Every save Courtois made in Real Madrid’s run to the 2022 UCL Final.
The best. pic.twitter.com/oo3DJoPKh8December 29, 2022 — RM. (@rmdanalysis)
1. Alisson Becker
Alisson Becker is the best goalkeeper in the world and has helped transform Liverpool into one of the best teams in Europe. After the disaster of the 2018 Champions League Final, Liverpool spent a then record £65m to buy Allison from Roma.
Liverpool's shot-stopping woes finally ended and he's managed to win a Champions League and Premier League title with the club.
Allison is one of the most commanding goalkeepers in the world and his presence at the back has bailed his team out on numerous occasions. He's also given Liverpool's attack-minded defenders the freedom to leave him isolated up back.
His ability to stop crosses, sweep, his distribution from the back, his passing range and his ability in one-on-one situations is world class. He also possesses great positioning and anticipation which has given him almost unbeatable shot stopping abilities.
When you look at everything about Allison, he really is the complete goalkeeping package, and the best goalkeeper in the world.
Where would Liverpool be without Alisson Becker? 😤 pic.twitter.com/kpigOtgi1H
December 25, 2022 — Squawka (@Squawka)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.
Ederson and ter Stegen are the most unlucky goalkeepers. They had to be benched in the world cup though they are the bests.
It's crazy to think how blessed some countries are with multiple keepers. Even Slovenia with Jan Oblak and Samir Handanovic for example.
Alisson is a complete modern goalkeeper, calm, good with his feet, a scorer 😁 and with good reflexes. First time hearing of Mike Maigna. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure! Maignan should climb up this list even further into 2024 if he keeps it going the way he is. Good on Milan for picking him up! A real bargain
I was expecting Emiliano Martinez to be in the top three, the guy might just win the best goalkeeper in the Ballon d'Or this year.
A 100% clutch keeper without a doubt! Lets see how he goes for the rest of the season. He's only had 3 clean sheets in his first 15 games of the season for Villa, and they've conceded more than Everton and West Ham who are both fighting off relegation, and only one less goal compared to Wolves who are second last.
A fantastic World Cup but he needs to do more to be a top 3 keeper IMO