Top 10 Greatest Goalkeepers in Football History

Alisson is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the English club Liverpool and the Brazil national team. He was named the best goalkeeper of 2019 by FIFPRO and France Football.

Alisson began his career at Internacional, where he played over 100 matches and won the Campeonato Gaucho in all four seasons he was there. In 2016, he moved to AS Roma for €7.5 million to replace Wojciech Szczesny, before becoming a regular starter. In July 2018, Alisson signed with Liverpool for an initial fee of €62.5 million, which could rise to €72 million (around £66.8 million), setting a world record fee for a goalkeeper at the time.

In his first season at the club, he won the Premier League Golden Glove for most clean sheets in the league (21 matches) and helped secure another clean sheet in Liverpool's 2019 UEFA Champions League final victory. 2019 was a highly successful year for Alisson. On the collective level, he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool, while also helping Brazil win the Copa America. On a personal level, he claimed the Golden Glove in the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Copa America, and was recognized as the best goalkeeper in the world by France Football and FIFPRO.

Manuel Neuer is a professional German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper and serves as the captain of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Germany national football team. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport.

Neuer was called up to the German national team in preparation for a tour in Asia. He made his debut in a match against the UAE on June 2. Neuer won the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Germany's U-21 team in Sweden and the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the senior national team, receiving the Golden Glove award at the 2014 World Cup.

He also featured in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, leading his team as captain. Neuer is often described as a 'sweeper-keeper' due to his unique playing style and speed, rushing out of his penalty area to challenge opposing players. He was named the best goalkeeper of the decade (2011-2020) by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

With his authoritative leadership and commanding presence in goal, he excels at communication with his defenders and organizing the team's defensive structure. In 2015, Gianluigi Buffon described Neuer as the best goalkeeper of his era.

Sepp Maier is a retired professional goalkeeper from Germany, widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Born in Metten, Bavaria, he spent his entire career playing for Bayern Munich, where he achieved great success, winning 4 Bundesliga titles and 3 European Cups.

Between 1966 and 1977, Maier played 422 consecutive matches for Bayern Munich, a record that still stands today. He was named the West German Player of the Year three times (1975, 1977, 1978). Maier also represented West Germany in 4 World Cups. In the 1966 World Cup in England, he replaced Hans Tilkowski as the goalkeeper. In the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he was the main goalkeeper, playing all of West Germany's matches, where they lost to Italy in the semifinals, finishing third. In the 1974 World Cup held in West Germany, Maier played an instrumental role in helping his team win the final 2-1 against the Netherlands, securing the prestigious World Cup trophy.

Maier was also a key member of the West German team that won the 1972 European Championship and finished as runners-up in the 1976 European Championship after losing to Czechoslovakia in a penalty shootout. He retired from football in 1979, and after his retirement, he served as a goalkeeper coach for Bayern Munich and the German national team. In March 2004, he was inducted into the FIFA 100 list.

Gordon Banks was born in Sheffield in 1937 and developed a passion for football at a young age. He signed with a local club as a boy, but at the age of 14, he was unexpectedly released without any explanation. Banks then had to give up football and worked as a miner. However, fate had bigger plans for him, and he became one of England's greatest goalkeepers.

As an English goalkeeper, Banks played a key role in helping his country win the 1966 World Cup. Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history, Banks was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972 and was awarded FIFA's Goalkeeper of the Year six times.

Banks is also remembered for his legendary save against Pele's header during the 1970 World Cup final, a moment that has gone down in history as one of the greatest saves in football. This iconic moment cemented his place as one of the greatest keepers in the world. On February 12, 2019, the family of Gordon Banks announced the passing of the 81-year-old legend through Stoke City's official website, the club he had played for during his career.

Dino Zoff is a former Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper and holds the record as the oldest player to win the World Cup. Over his 11-year tenure at Juventus, he won 6 Serie A titles, 2 Coppa Italia titles, and a UEFA Cup. However, his most significant achievement came at the 1982 World Cup.

At 40, Zoff captained Italy to victory, becoming the oldest player in history to win the World Cup. He followed in the footsteps of fellow Italian Giampiero Combi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 1934, becoming only the second goalkeeper to captain a World Cup-winning team. Zoff was also named the Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.

Zoff set the record for the longest streak without conceding a goal in international matches (1142 minutes) between 1972 and 1974. He also held the record as the oldest player in Serie A and for most Serie A appearances (570 matches) during his more than 20-year career. After retiring from playing, he went on to coach several Serie A clubs and the Italian national team.

Peter Schmeichel is a former Danish football goalkeeper. He was named the best goalkeeper in the world in 1992 and 1993. Schmeichel is most renowned for his successful period with Manchester United, where he won the UEFA Champions League and achieved a historic treble. He was also a key player for Denmark’s national team, helping them secure the European Championship title in 1992.

Schmeichel was known for his incredible physical strength, brilliant saves, and consistency. Throughout his career, he scored 11 goals, an impressive feat for a goalkeeper. He is also Denmark's most-capped player, having made 129 appearances for his national team, scoring 1 goal. In addition to Euro 1992, Schmeichel participated in the 1998 World Cup and three other European Championships. He captained Denmark in 30 matches.

Schmeichel is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. The IFFHS named him one of the top 10 goalkeepers of the 20th century. In 2003, Schmeichel was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame for his contributions to football in England. In 2004, Pele included Schmeichel in the FIFA 100 list. Schmeichel currently holds the record for most clean sheets in the Premiership with 42 matches where his team didn't concede a goal.

Lev Yashin was the goalkeeper for Dinamo Moscow and the Soviet Union national team, renowned for his sharp reflexes, imposing presence, and ability to pull off incredible saves under extreme pressure. He was named the greatest goalkeeper of the 20th century by IFFHS and remains the only goalkeeper in history to win the Ballon d'Or in 1963.

As a key member of the Soviet Union team, Yashin played in three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1966), and even participated in the 1970 World Cup as a backup goalkeeper and assistant. Yashin is celebrated for keeping four clean sheets in 13 World Cup matches. In 1971, he played his final match for Dinamo Moscow against a European All-Star team.

One of Yashin's most memorable performances came in the FA's centenary match at Wembley, where he made a series of spectacular, seemingly impossible saves. Known as the 'Black Spider' due to his all-black kit and his spider-like ability to stop shots, Yashin was widely admired for his agility and reflexes.

Yashin is the only goalkeeper to ever win the European Ballon d'Or (1963). Over his career, he saved approximately 150 penalties, the most by any goalkeeper in history. For his tireless contributions to his country and people, he was awarded the Lenin Order in 1967, the second-highest honor in the Soviet Union. A bronze statue of him stands at the Dinamo Stadium in Moscow. In 2000, FIFA voted him into their Dream Team of the Century and named him 'Goalkeeper of the Century.'

Thibaut Courtois is a professional footballer from Belgium, known for his remarkable goalkeeping abilities. He currently plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the Belgium national team, and is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Courtois began his career in the youth system of Genk, where he played a crucial role in their Belgian league title victory. In 2011, at the age of 18, he signed with Chelsea for €8 million, and was immediately loaned to Atlético Madrid. During his three seasons there, he won the Europa League in 2012, Copa del Rey in 2013, and La Liga in 2014.

His outstanding performances earned him the Ricardo Zamora Trophy as La Liga's best goalkeeper in his final two seasons at Atlético. Courtois returned to Chelsea in 2014, where he helped the club win the League Cup and Premier League in his first season. He also won the Premier League Golden Glove in 2017, following Chelsea's second league title with him in goal. In 2018, Courtois moved to Real Madrid for €35 million, becoming La Liga's most expensive goalkeeper at the time, and helped the team win another La Liga title in 2020, along with his third Zamora Trophy.

Courtois made his international debut for Belgium in October 2011, becoming the country's youngest goalkeeper at the time. He has since earned over 80 caps and played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Glove for being the best goalkeeper of the tournament as Belgium finished third.

Iker Casillas Fernández, born on May 20, 1981, in Madrid, is a retired Spanish goalkeeper and a legend of Real Madrid in La Liga. Casillas was named the best goalkeeper in the world by FIFPRO in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012.

He played a pivotal role in Spain's victory at the 2010 World Cup, making two crucial one-on-one saves against Dutch forward Arjen Robben in the final. Casillas also won two European Championships with Spain in 2008 and 2012. Additionally, he was awarded the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper on four occasions.

At the peak of his career, Casillas collected numerous national and international trophies with Real Madrid. His contributions were crucial in Spain's triumphs in Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup, and Euro 2012. He was honored as the European and World Footballer of the Year in 2008. On August 4, 2020, Iker Casillas officially retired from international football after a 30-year professional career.

Jan Oblak is a Slovenian goalkeeper who currently plays for Atletico Madrid and the Slovenian national team. At the age of 17, Oblak signed a professional contract with Portugal's Benfica, where he was part of the team that secured a historic treble in the 2013–2014 season.

Later, he moved to Atletico Madrid for a then-record €16 million, becoming the most expensive goalkeeper in La Liga history. In the 2015–2016 season, Oblak won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy as the best goalkeeper after conceding just 18 goals throughout the campaign. He went on to win this award for the next three seasons. Oblak was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2017 and 2018 following stellar performances at the club level.

Many experts consider Jan Oblak to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world today. The “wall” of Atletico Madrid consistently delivers remarkable performances, particularly in the Champions League Round of 16 clash against Liverpool. In that match, Oblak reaffirmed his elite status. A goalkeeper who excels in every skill, Oblak is uncontested as the best goalkeeper in La Liga.