A goalkeeper’s role in football has evolved from just being a brilliant shot-stopper. Nowadays, ‘keepers have to be just as good with their feet, with plenty of managers opting to play out from the back, meaning their No 1s are their first point to build an attack.
But with coaches demanding so much more from their number ones, who takes the crown as the best goalkeeper in world football?
Ranking factors
To help rank the goalkeepers in order, we have considered the following criteria:
Current form – how well a player has performed in the past few months Importance to their teams – how influential they are to their teams’ performances Role – how unique their skillset is Reputation – what others say about them
Rank
Player
Age
Club
Nation
Gianluigi Donnarumma
26
Man City
Italy
David Raya
30
Arsenal
Spain
Thibaut Courtois
33
Real Madrid
Belgium
Alisson
33
Liverpool
Brazil
Jan Oblak
32
Atletico Madrid
Slovenia
Unai Simon
28
Athletic Club
Spain
Emiliano Martinez
33
Aston Villa
Argentina
Diogo Costa
26
FC Porto
Portugal
Gregor Kobel
27
Borussia Dortmund
Switzerland
Yann Sommer
36
Inter Milan
Switzerland
Manuel Neuer
39
Bayern Munich
Germany
Mike Maignan
30
AC Milan
France
Joan Garcia
24
Barcelona
Spain
Jordan Pickford
31
Everton
England
Mile Svilar
26
Roma
Serbia
15 Mile Svilar Roma and Serbia
Mile Svilar had a standout 2024/25 season, recording 16 clean sheets and the highest save percentage in Serie A which has seen him join the rankings for the first time.
The Serbia international, who joined Roma in 2022, is now 26 years of age and appears to be entering his prime for the Italian giants.
Liga Portugal
2019
Belgian Pro League
2017
Belgian Super Cup
2017
14 Jordan Pickford Everton and England
Everton’s No.1 Jordan Pickford has been first choice for England for almost eight years now, and he has impressed in recent weeks for the Toffees ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Pickford starred in the 1-0 win at Old Trafford and has been a consistent performer who arguably goes under the radar when it goes to being labelled as one of the best in the world.
13 Joan Garcia Barcelona and Spain
Joan Garcia was a goalkeeper in demand during the summer of 2025 following his eye-catching performances for Espanyol.
The Spaniard looked as if he was heading to Arsenal to link up with compatriots Mikel Arteta and David Raya, however, Barcelona came in and secured a deal.
It has proven to be a smart decision, with Garcia first choice when fit, and he’s under contract at the Nou Camp until 2031.
12 Mike Maignan AC Milan and France
Mike Maignan’s impressive displays in Italy with AC Milan have resulted in recent rumours of a move to the Premier League, with the France No.1 linked with Chelsea and Man Utd.
Now captain of Milan, Maignan has made more than 150 appearances for the European giants and has won the Goalkeeper of the Year award in France and Italy during his career.
At the age of 30, Maignan appears to be approaching the prime of his career, and he has been hailed by Kylian Mbappe for his penalty-saving bailout following his Nations League heroics for France.
Ligue 1
2021
Serie A
2022
Nations League
2021
Italian Super Cup
2025
11 Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich and Germany
Despite turning 39 years of age in March, Manuel Neuer is still one of the best goalkeepers on the planet. He’s won everything there is to win in the game and has made more than 550 appearances for Bayern Munich.
The German icon has suffered with some injury issues over the last 12 months, but when fit, continues to be first-choice at the Allianz Arena. He’s also still under contract until 2026, so it looks as if he’ll continue playing into his forties.
Bundesliga
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025
World Cup
2014
Champions League
2013, 2020
FIFA Club World Cup
2014, 2021
UEFA Super Cup
2013, 2020
German Cup
2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020
German Super Cup
2012, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
U21 European Championship
2009
10 Yann Sommer Inter Milan and Switzerland
Another highly experienced shot-stopper who appears to be getting better with age is Yann Sommer.
The 36-year-old moved to Inter Milan in 2023 to replace Andre Onana and has starred in Serie A, keeping clean sheets in more than half of his appearances for the club in all competitions.
Approaching 100 caps for Switzerland as well, Sommer is another example of ‘keepers hitting their prime in the latter stages of their career, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he too ends up continuing for a long while yet.
Bundesliga
2023
Serie A
2024
Swiss Super League
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Swiss Cup
2007, 2012
Italian Super Cup
2024
Liechtenstein Cup
2008
9 Gregor Kobel Borussia Dortmund and Switzerland
Transfermarkt has €40m Gregor Kobel as the joint-most valuable keeper in the world today, with the Swiss shot-stopper waiting patiently to take over from Sommer as his nation’s No.1.
The 27-year-old has been an ever-present figure for Borussia Dortmund since 2021, with sporting director Sebastian Kehl calling him ‘a goalkeeper of world-class calibre who has attracted the interest of many top clubs in Europe’.
Under contract until 2028, it’ll be interesting to see if Dortmund can keep Kobel at the club in the years to come.
Bundesliga Team of the Season
2023, 2024
Champions League Team of the Season
2024
8 Diogo Costa FC Porto and Portugal
Diogo Costa, a Portugal international, made a name for himself at Euro 2024, saving three penalties in a shootout over Slovenia and has continued to impress with FC Porto.
Mikel Arteta has also hailed Costa’s consistency in recent years, and right now, he is the joint-most valuable ‘keeper according to Transfermarkt.
7 Emiliano Martinez Aston Villa and Argentina
A champion with Argentina, Emiliano Martinez has continued to star years on after helping his country to World Cup glory in Qatar.
With Aston Villa, Martinez played a key role in helping them into the Champions League and has been called a “more mature” and “better goalkeeper” by Unai Emery. Named as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in 2024, Martinez has dipped slightly in 2025.
World Cup
2022
Copa America
2021, 2024
FA Cup
2015, 2017, 2020
Community Shield
2014, 2015, 2020
6 Unai Simon Athletic Club and Spain
Athletic Club had the best defence in La Liga for the 2024/25 season, with goalkeeper Unai Simon playing his part in a solid backing under Ernesto Valverde by recording the best save percentage in the league at more than 77%.
Despite missing the first half of the season through injury, Simon has been a regular in 2025 and has now made more than 200 appearances for his current employers.
European Championship
2024
Nations League
2023
Spanish Cup
2024
Spanish Super Cup
2020
