Everybody Soccer returns with its installment of the top goalkeepers in the world. Goalkeepers are rated on their form with club and country, taking into account their success in shot-stopping, distribution, cross-management, and ability to improv on a broken play. To view past rankings, you can click here to see the prior lists in a spreadsheet or visit the list of the top 24 goalkeepers under 24 years old. Cover photo from Srdjan Stevanovic and Getty Images.
The rankings were last updated January 1st, 2024.
1. Alisson
Alisson’s arrival at Liverpool just coincidentally lined up with the club’s ascent to capturing a number of trophies. Although some minor injuries have derailed Alisson here and there, the Liverpool star obtained just 13 losses in his 136 starts in the EPL, a pace he and the club have kept going since day one. Alisson has a similar style to Oblak, which fits well with both Liverpool and Brazil as the prized goalkeeper often needs to wait 89 minutes to make his first save. Despite being named the best goalkeeper at the 2019 Copa America, Alisson and Ederson controversially split time through Brazil’s runner-up finish at the 2021 Copa America, making the number one spot for Brazil one of the most hotly contested positions in all of sport.
2. Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak’s game is built around patient decision-making. While some goalkeepers are on the front foot, Oblak bets his chips on being able to read the play through, rarely leaning or guessing one way early. Oblak isn’t a flashy goalkeeper, but his quiet play style has earned him a steady job with Atletico, constant transfer rumors, and high praise from Messi himself.
3. Manuel Neuer
In complete opposite to his previous counterpart, it’s all or nothing with Neuer’s approach. The 2020 German Player of the Year is still attacking oppositions with his unique high line and aggressive playstyle, even late into his career. It’s hard to see when Neuer will start slowing down as he continues to play at an incredibly high level. However once the day comes for Bayern and Germany move on from the illustrious goalkeeper, don’t expect his replacement to continue to difficult play style.
4. Thibaut Courtois
Courtois sits in a crowded field of top goalkeepers in La Liga. Between Oblak and ter Stegen, Courtois has held his own by winning three trophies with Real Madrid in his first two years with the club. Understandably, it takes a world of effort to best the 6’7” goalkeeper, who can keep the cobwebs in the corners of the goalframe with ease. A striker’s best chance at slipping the ball around Courtois is within close, but even on breakaways, Courtois can be an intimidating force. Real Madrid fans have put immense pressure on Courtois but the Belgian goalkeeper has the ability to spend close to ten years with the club when it’s all said and done.
5. Ederson
Ederson is closing in on ten seasons with Manchester City under a contract that should see him stay at the club into his 30’s. Voted as the world’s best goalkeeper in 2023, Ederson oddly still sits as the number two for his country. Brazilian fans are split on which goalkeeper they want in goal as the two are textbook examples for passive and aggressive goalkeeping. Ederson’s explosive and front-footed style should continue to push Manchester City for hardware and potentially push him ahead of Alisson in Brazil’s depth chart.
6. Gianluigi Donnarumma
PSG has a strong history with top goalkeepers leading the club. From Sirigu to Areola to Navas, the young Italian goalkeeper is just the next chapter of goalkeeping greats. Donnarumma has a “beat me if you can” attitude and approach, similar to Courtois. Donnarumma’s contract reportedly runs through summer 2026, making for a potentially explosive situation with Tenas nipping at his heels. There’s much debate on if Donnarumma is a good or great goalkeeper, so if he wants to cement himself into goalkeeping lore, he’ll need to be able to fend off Tenas. If he can’t look for him to slide to a comfortable Italian team to maintain his number one status.
7. Arnau Tenas
Tenas left Barcelona on a free transfer, which may prove to be the Spanish club’s all-time worst decision. Tenas is still waiting for his first cap but at just 21 years old, and a crowded depth chart to navigate, he has a few years to cement himself as a long-term option for his home country. In the mean time, Tenas filled in mightily for Donnarumma in December while the Italian was serving red card suspension. Conceding just two goals over the 192 minute stretch, the Spanish goalkeeper showed positive signs for taking over, if a switch were to be made. Tenas has yet to receive a true number-one nod so keep an eye out for the young goalkeeper to truly prove his worth.
8. Emiliano Martinez
Known as essentially the lone villian goalkeeper in the entire sport, Emi Martinez welcomes the spotlight if it propels his team forward. As shown at the 2022 World Cup, Martinez will likely be best remembered for his penalty antics that secured Argentina’s victory but the save in the 120th minute best sums up the golden glove winner: a goalkeeper who never backed down from even the most difficult challenge.
9. Alphonse Areola
After a decade of mercenary work with PSG loaning out the French goalkeeper across the continent, Areola has finally found his home with West Ham. Areola returns to the Premier League with the Hammers with an outside chance of capturing a Europa League bid - if not a Champions League spot - for the upcoming season. Although Areola has only three caps with the national team and will most likely be watching the 2022 World Cup from the sidelines, 2023-2026 should be the post-Lloris era that will finally give Areola a chance to cement himself into French history.
10. Marc Ter Stegen
Marc ter Stegen has long filled the good-but-not-great tier for most fans but he fills a role that few goalkeepers could fill: support Barcelona’s possession-based attack while being more than just average when it comes to defensive actions in the final third. Although ter Stegen will likely be seen as Neuer’s eternal backup, his decade-long tenure at Barcelona should put make him one of the most underrated goalkeepers of all-time.
Best of the Rest
rank. name - club, nationality (age)
11. Unai Simón - Athletic Bilbao, Spain (26)
12. Kevin Trapp - Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany (32)
13. Kepa Arrizabalaga - Real Madrid, Spain (29)
14. David Raya - Brentford, Spain (28)
15. Dominik Kotarski - PAOK Salonika, Croatia (23)
16. Alex Remiro - Real Sociedad, Spain (28)
17. Justin Bijlow - Feyenoord, Netherlands (26)
18. Gregor Kobel - Dortmund, Switzerland (26)
19. Andriy Lunin - Real Madrid, Ukraine (24)
20. Iñaki Peña - Barcelona, Spain (24)
21. David de Gea - Free Agent, Spain (33)
22. Edouard Mendy - Al-Ahli, Senegal (31)
23. Illan Meslier - Leeds United, France (23)
24. Mike Maignan - AC Milan, France (28)
25. Keylor Navas - PSG, Costa Rica (37)
26. Wojciech Szczesny - Juventus, Poland (33)
27. Luca Zidane - SD Eibar, France (25)
28. Péter Gulácsi - RB Leipzig, Hungary (33)
29. Aaron Ramsdale - Arsenal, England (25)
30. Lukasz Fabianski - West Ham United, Poland (38)
31. Hugo Lloris - Tottenham, France (37)
32. Walter Benítez - PSV Eindhoven, Argentina (30)
33. Kasper Schmeichel - Anderlecht, Denmark (37)
34. Matheus - SC Braga, Brazil (31)
35. Pau López - Marseille, Spain (29)
36. Rubén Blanco - Marseille, Spain (28)
37. Lukas Hradecky - Bayer Leverkusen, Finland (34)
38. Anthony Lopes - Lyon, Portugal (33)
39. André Onana - Manchester United, Cameroon (27)
40. Rui Patrício - Roma, Portugal (35)
41. Bernd Leno - Fulham, Germany (31)
42. Jordan Pickford - Everton, England (29)
43. Franco Israel - Sporting CP, Uruguay (23)
44. Maarten Vandevoordt - Genk, Belgium (21)
45. Salvatore Sirigu - Nice, Italy (37)
46. Pepe Reina - Villarreal, Spain (41)
47. Paul Bernardoni - Konyaspor, France (26)
48. Robert Sanchez - Chelsea, Spain (26)
49. Mathew Ryan - AZ Alkmaar, Australia (31)
50. Sam Johnstone - Crystal Palace, England (30)