TA ranks the Top 15 goalkeeper: Courtois leads, Donnarumma second, Alisson third

On April 14th, The Athletic selected the top 15 best goalkeepers in world football today. Courtois ranks first, Donnarumma is second, and Alisson is third.

Brief:

Over the past decade, the goalkeeper position has undergone tremendous changes - it is no longer solely defined by saves, but more deeply involved in the game. Here, TA attempts to outline the image of the highest-level goalkeepers in modern football and lists the top 15 specific names. This list does not only focus on goalkeepers who have performed well this season, but prioritizes the player's persistence and stability in elite-level events, which has prevented some rising stars from entering the top 15. For example, Manchester United's Lamens and Sunderland's Roefs have demonstrated the technical qualities of modern goalkeepers, but due to insufficient sample size, they cannot be directly compared with the players on the list, but they all have the potential to grow into top goalkeepers.

Top 15 Best Goalkeepers in the World

1. Courtois (Real Madrid/Belgium)

If we start from physical fitness creating an ideal goalkeeper, it is difficult to find a more suitable candidate than Courtois. He is 2.01 meters tall, has an amazing armspan and excellent coordination, and has rare height advantages and agile reaction ability, which is extremely rare among players of the same height.

The Real Madrid number one goalkeeper's excellence lies not only in his peak state, but also in his stability - his competitive level has never declined significantly. This kind of reliability maintained year after year in the highest-level arena is the core that truly distinguishes this Belgian goalkeeper from other players of the same level.

The 33-year-old has also proven many times that he can always stand up at critical moments: from the Champions League final to the key battles that determine the title, he has repeatedly carried the team on the highest stage of football.

Technically, Courtois is perfect. His close-range reaction speed is among the best in the world, he has extremely strong control over the penalty area, and he can remain calm even in chaotic situations. His passing is stable and reliable, and although the range of passing is not wide, it rarely puts the team in a passive position. More importantly, he can always change the course of the game with one key touch.

By his own standards, this season has been relatively calm, with an average of 1.8 saves per game. Real Madrid also deeply felt the impact of his absence due to his thigh injury - the most recent was the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich.

The strongest evidence for his inclusion on the list is his adaptability. Courtois can seamlessly join any team in the world and immediately improve the team's defensive strength. Maintaining a high level of performance for a long time and standing up at the most important moments is not only what makes him different, but also why he is still one of the most representative figures among goalkeepers of the same generation.

2. Donnarumma (Manchester City/Italy)

When Donnarumma joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, he was already one of the world's top young goalkeepers. At the age of 22, he won the European Championship with the Italian team, and before that, he had played hundreds of times for the first team during his time at Milan. He rose to fame early on thanks to his excellent goalkeeping skills and composure beyond his peers.

Now he is still performing well. In last season's Champions League, especially in the semi-final against Arsenal, his performance once again confirmed his strength: a series of difficult saves, including a key one-on-one save and a low-level reaction save in the crowd, directly affected the course of the game.

Donnarumma is still a traditional goalkeeper. He is best at moving around near the goal line, controlling the entire penalty area with his body shape, wingspan and reaction speed. Compared with those players in the same position who pay more attention to ball control organization, his value is mainly reflected in preventing goals, rather than participating in offensive organization.

After the transfer to Manchester City, the outside world once questioned whether his style was in line with the team, but his goalkeeping ability still maintains an elite level, and he can always stand up at critical moments. His control over the penalty area has also improved, with an average of 0.89 punches per game, ranking first among all players on the list, which also reflects that he is more and more willing to actively defend his penalty area.

Donnarumma, who is only 27 years old, has both the rich experience and broad development potential of an elite player. If he can continue to improve his overall capabilities, he is fully capable of maintaining his peak state for the next ten years - which is chilling to think about.

3. Alisson (Liverpool/Brazil)

A year ago, Alisson was fully qualified to compete for the title of best goalkeeper. At that time, Liverpool had an absolute advantage, and his excellent performance also consolidated the team's dominance on both offense and defense. However, a year has passed, and the situation has changed. Injuries and fluctuations in team performance have disrupted the rhythm of this 33-year-old veteran.

Nevertheless, Alisson is still one of the most comprehensive goalkeepers in modern football. His one-on-one ability is unmatched - his patience, timing and body posture always force attacking players to make low-probability choices. On the goal line, he is agile and efficient, and his clean foot movements keep him balanced and rarely out of position.

This control was fully demonstrated in Liverpool's 1-0 victory over defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League Round of 16 last season - he played a decisive role in that game.

His passing ability enhances his overall level. Alisson is not only good at controlling the ball, but also very proactive. His long passes can often directly transform defense into offense, injecting vitality into Liverpool's offensive and defensive transitions.

This season has been more difficult for him, with 2.9 more goals conceded than expected - his lowest level since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018, in stark contrast to his 9.45 saves per game in the 2022-23 season. This fluctuation also highlights that in top leagues, victory or defeat is often a matter of inches.

Even so, his overall performance is still first-class. When he is in good condition and healthy, few goalkeepers can be as dominant as him in goalkeeping, ball control and organizing offense.

4. Neuer (Bayern Munich/Germany)

Neuer's legendary status has long been established, but what is even more remarkable is that he still maintains a high level of competitive performance. Although no longer at his peak, the 40-year-old's recent performance proves that his level is still top-notch.

In recent years, Neuer has been plagued by injuries, but his understanding and anticipation of the goalkeeper position have compensated for the decline in speed and explosiveness. His interpretation of the game - especially in the face of large-scale opponent attacks - is still his hallmark trait, which allows him to intervene proactively before the danger is fully formed. This ability is the key to his redefinition of the modern goalkeeper role. He often plays the role of auxiliary defender and also shows impressive composure when controlling the ball.

Even at this age, his skills are still superb. He may not be the goalkeeper with the most saves - he has only faced 48 shots so far this season, the fewest of all players on the list - but whenever the team needs him, the quality of his saves can always be amazing. Last week's game against Real Madrid once again confirmed his consistent high level.

His long career demonstrates his greatness and ensures that he will always be among the discussions of the greatest goalkeepers in history.

5. Maignan (Milan/France)

As one of the most comprehensive goalkeepers in Europe, Maignan not only has top-notch goalkeeping ability, but also shows extremely high influence in ball control organization, which is rarely matched by players in the same position.

He is the first non-Italian player to serve as the captain of Milan since Swedish midfielder Nils Liedholm in 1961. His leadership skills are as important as his technical ability, bringing organization and clarity to the team's tactical structure, while enhancing the team's defensive cohesion.

This 30-year-old goalkeeper is known for his strength and explosiveness. He is proactive, has excellent footwork, and can quickly cover large areas, responding to various situations in a dominant manner. In one-on-one scenarios, he is decisive, calm, and has extremely strong short-range explosive power, which makes him one of the most efficient goalkeepers in the game - an average of 10.4 successful saves is the best proof, and this data is tied for first place in the top five European leagues.

He has also earned the reputation of "one of the most reliable penalty kick savers in the world." He can accurately judge the situation on the field, stabilize the team's position, and use his explosive power to control the situation, often making the opponent's forward hesitate before each penalty kick.

What truly sets him apart is his role in the team's offensive organization. Maignan is almost like an extra player on the field, who can both withstand pressure to organize offense and bypass the opponent's defense with accurate long passes. His ability to control the rhythm of the game, coupled with his excellent sweeping ability and control of the penalty area, makes him the core of Milan's tactical system. He is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive goalkeepers in the world.

6. E. Martinez (Aston Villa/Argentina)

He is one of the most representative figures among goalkeepers of the same generation, especially in international competitions.

Martinez's excellent performance for the Argentina team, especially in the 2022 World Cup winning journey, fully demonstrated his outstanding ability at critical moments. Saving Randal Kolo Muani's shot in the final moments of the final, and his "psychological warfare" in the penalty shootout, have become part of the legend of modern goalkeepers.

He has also gained widespread recognition, winning the Yashin Trophy many times - an award dedicated to recognizing the best goalkeeper in the world. His presence alone can change the psychological direction of the game.

This authority is also reflected in his control over the penalty area. He will actively handle crosses. In the Premier League, he averages 1.85 tackles and punches per 90 minutes, ranking first on the list.

However, his performance fluctuates greatly. Mistakes occur from time to time, and his unstable performance has been highlighted again this season. His aggressive style of play, which is extremely effective at critical moments, can also become a potential risk for the team in the long season.

Despite this, Martinez is still the cornerstone of Aston Villa and the Argentina team, and one of the most influential goalkeepers in the world.

7. David Raya (Arsenal/Spain)

At Arsenal, Raya brings stability and tactical clarity to the team. The role he plays requires deep participation in all aspects of the game. His passing - both in accuracy and decision-making ability - is key to Arsenal's offensive organization and control of the game, and his organization and command ability in the penalty area has also improved the team's defensive system.

This season, no goalkeeper has more clean sheets than Raya, whether in the Premier League (15 games) or the Champions League (7 games). He is only 1.83 meters tall, which is not outstanding among goalkeepers, but his timing, explosiveness and anticipation allow him to decisively attack and intercept crosses and control the penalty area. His saves are still sharp and efficient, especially when saving at close range, he can always make accurate and decisive judgments with his speed advantage.

Despite his excellent performance at the club, he is not the number one goalkeeper for the Spanish team - which also reflects the deep reserves of this European champion team in the goalkeeper position.

In the highest-level events, trophies often determine people's evaluations and opinions. Although Raya's performance has been excellent, the lack of a decisive championship moment means that he is still unable to enter the top ranks.

8. Oblak (Atletico Madrid/Slovenia)

Oblak is crucial for Simeone's Atletico Madrid. His stability and concentration allow the team's defensive system to perform at its highest level.

His reliability is reflected in his amazing clean sheet record. Oblak only used 182 La Liga appearances to complete 100 clean sheets. He is the fastest player in the history of the event to achieve this achievement, which also highlights the continuous top performance of this 33-year-old veteran throughout his long career.

Positioning is his greatest advantage. He can almost always be in the right place at the right time, which allows him to proactively anticipate the situation of the game and take action efficiently and without haste.

His steady style of play is reminiscent of Buffon. This six-time Zamora Trophy (La Liga Best Goalkeeper of the Year) winner rarely relies on his athletic ability, but more on accurate judgment.

After a brief downturn, Oblak returned to his peak, further consolidating his status as one of the most intelligent, most stable, and most low-key dominant goalkeepers in football.

9. Juan Garcia (Barcelona/Spain)

His rise is rapid and well-deserved. Garcia, who is about 1.93 meters tall, stands out among Spanish goalkeepers - he not only has outstanding height and wingspan, but also very flexible footwork and agile reactions. This agility allows him to operate efficiently in tight spaces, while his timing and positioning choices make him reliable in aerial defense.

Garcia came from Barcelona's city rival Espanyol. In the 2023-24 season, he became the team's number one goalkeeper in the team's promotion to the top league, completing 12 clean sheets in 21 appearances. He continued this excellent state to last season's La Liga, and won the league save king in his first full top league season.

His outstanding performance earned him the opportunity to transfer to Barcelona, and he quickly established himself as the team's main goalkeeper. This season, he has completed 12 clean sheets in 25 league games, facing 82 shots, with an average of 10.4 saves per game, ranking first in the top five European leagues.

However, since he has only served as a starter in the top league for two seasons, the sample size is still relatively small. But he is proactive, dares to attack, and his skills fully meet the requirements of modern football for goalkeepers.

10. Kobel (Borussia Dortmund/Switzerland)

Kobel has become one of the most talented goalkeepers in the Bundesliga. He has been a mainstay of the team since joining Borussia Dortmund from Stuttgart in 2021. During this period, he has grown into an absolute main player at the club level, and took over as the starting goalkeeper for the national team after Sommer retired from the Swiss national team in 2024.

Kobel is 1.96 meters tall and has the physique of a top goalkeeper, but his style of play focuses more on accuracy and explosiveness, rather than air control. He prefers to move near the goal line, which maximizes his reaction speed. He usually does not rely on exaggerated movements, but prepares for saves in advance, so as to complete saves efficiently and accurately.

This season, he has averaged 4.7 saves per game, performing brightly. In one-on-one scenarios, he is good at using his body advantage to block shooting angles and relying on flexible saving skills to resolve close-range threats.

His passing organization ability is acceptable and his decision-making is very stable. The 28-year-old is also a leader who dares to speak out and is demanding, constantly organizing his teammates in front of him and stabilizing the team's defense.

11. Pickford (Everton/England)

Since 2018, Pickford's status as England's number one goalkeeper has been questioned, but he can always respond to the doubts with high-level performances at the most critical moments.

More than 80 national team appearances reflect his resilience and reliability. His goalkeeping ability is very outstanding, and he can also show composure at critical moments. His passing ability - whether short or long passes - is still his core advantage.

Pickford played a decisive role in Everton's recent relegation battle. His importance is also reflected in personal honors. He has been elected as the club's best player of the season three times in the past four years.

This season, he faced 125 shots and averaged 5.6 saves per game, the most saves of all goalkeepers on the list. This not only highlights his stability, but also shows his ability to turn the tide under continuous pressure.

12. Sommer (Internazionale/Switzerland)

Sommer set his own benchmark in August 2022, when he played for Borussia Mönchengladbach and contributed one of the most amazing goalkeeper performances in Bundesliga history - completing 19 saves in a single game. That game was more like a continuous goalkeeping training session than a game, and Sommer also showed amazing goalkeeping ability in that game.

If that game laid the foundation for his reputation, then his performance with Internazionale in the Champions League last season further consolidated his position on the highest stage. In the knockout stage, he made many key saves, especially in the second leg of the semi-final against Barcelona, keeping the goal safe under great pressure. In the end, his team lost 0-5 to Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

His style of play is based on excellent positioning and efficiency. At 1.83 meters tall, he relies on accurate judgment rather than physical advantages, and can always find the best position to achieve fast and explosive reactions. His foot movement is fast and his balance is excellent, and his ability to explode power from a static state is also first-class.

This season, his reliability has continued, laying the foundation for Internazionale's Serie A title chase. After Onana transferred to Manchester United in 2023, he joined Inter Milan for only 6 million euros (approximately $7 million or £5 million at the current exchange rate), and has now fully proven his value as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in Europe.

13. Unai Simon (Athletic Club/Spain)

Simon is a benchmark figure among Spanish goalkeepers, and his style of play is based on control, clarity and composure.

This 28-year-old is at the peak of his career. He can not only make calm decisions, but also be proactive in controlling the ball. He is good at observing, evaluating the situation on the field, and controlling the first stage of offensive organization, which makes him perfectly fit the tactical style of modern football.

At Athletic Club, his data this season is stable but not outstanding, with an average of 1.2 saves per game, a save success rate of 65.9%, and a pass success rate of 58.5%. But these data can only partially reflect his value - his composure in the offensive organization stage and his decision-making ability under pressure are still his core advantages.

Spain's trust in him has been built up over time. Simon has consistently performed well in major events and has played a key role in Spain's recent success, including winning the 2024 European Cup and the 2023 UEFA Nations League.

His comprehensive skills and stability in major competitions ensure that he will continue to serve as Spain's number one goalkeeper in this summer's World Cup.

14. Diogo Costa (Porto/Portugal)

Costa has grown into one of the most comprehensive goalkeepers in football today. He is not only proficient in goalkeeping skills, but also has the characteristics of composure and extremely strong control. At only 26 years old, he has shown the composure of a veteran and has played more than 200 times for Porto and the Portuguese national team.

His penalty kick saving record is certainly remarkable, but the meaning behind it is even more profound. In 2024, he became the first goalkeeper in Champions League history to save three consecutive penalty kicks. Later that year, he wore the Portuguese team jersey and staged this feat again, becoming the first player in European Cup history to save three penalty kicks in the same penalty shootout. These wonderful moments show his keen intuition and his ability to accurately judge his opponent's intentions under pressure.

He has extremely strong one-on-one ability, stable ball control, and reliable positioning. This season, he has played 29 league games for Porto, averaging 1.84 saves per game and maintaining 18 clean sheets, helping the team lead the league standings by 5 points.

Although his contract does not expire until 2030, a transfer to one of the top European leagues seems inevitable.

15. Ederson (Fenerbahce/Brazil)

Ederson's transfer from Manchester City to the Turkish Super League has naturally changed his position on this list, but this will not weaken his profound impact on modern football. At his peak, this 32-year-old veteran played a core role in redefining the positional system of "possession-based goalkeeper".

Under Guardiola's coaching, Ederson's role is far more than just a goalkeeper. His passing - especially accurate long passes and clever short pass cooperation - has completely changed Manchester City's offensive organization. He allows the team to play more aggressively, take greater tactical risks, and continuously put pressure on opponents, which is almost unmatched by other teams. Although his goalkeeping skills are not always the most superb, he can always stand up at critical moments, including several key saves in Manchester City's 2023 Champions League winning journey, helping the team complete the treble that season.

Even in the Turkish League, his competitive level has always been maintained at a high level. He played 22 league games for Fenerbahce, remaining undefeated, achieving 16 wins and 6 draws, and having 8 clean sheets.

The save success rate measures the goalkeeper's actual save performance and is calculated as the difference between the expected goals faced by the goalkeeper (xGOT) and the actual goals conceded. Ederson's average of 1.28 save success rate per game highlights his continuous and efficient performance, while his passing ability is still key to Fenerbahce's control of the game.