The top 20 greatest goalkeepers of all time in football history

The greatest goalkeepers of all time in football history were known for their alertness, speed, agility, consistency, strength, and handling technique on the field. They produced a range of different saves and catapulted their teams to multiple victories. Who are they? Find out today.

The world has seen many talented goalkeepers in different teams. Among them, some have been exceptional and are ranked among the greatest goalkeepers of all time in football history. These athletes have made indelible marks in the global sports industry.

Greatest goalkeepers of all time in football history

Below is a list of the greatest goalkeepers of all time in the history of football. These players are drawn from different teams, leagues, and nationalities. Some are retired, while others are still actively playing football.

20. Neville Southall - Dagenham & Redbridge (retired)

• Full name: Neville Southall
• Date of birth: 16 September 1958
• Age: 65 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Welsh
• Last/current team: Dagenham & Redbridge (retired)
• Career honours: Winsford United Player of the Year in 1979–80, Bury Player of the Year in 1980–81, World Soccer 'Greatest Players of the 20th Century': 95th, and BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 1995

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Neville Southall is a former international footballer who has been described as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Before retiring from playing, Neville Southall played for Bury, Everton, Port Vale, Southend United, Stoke City, Doncaster Rovers, Torquay United, and Dagenham & Redbridge.

19. Peter Shilton - Leyton Orient (retired)

• Full name: Peter Leslie Shilton
• Date of birth: 18 September 1949
• Age: 74 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: English
• Current team: Retired
• Career honours: IOC European Footballer of the Season in 1979–80, Southampton Player of the Season in 1984–85, 1985–86, Nottingham Forest Player of the Season in 1981–82, and PFA Team of the Century (1977–1996) in 2007

Peter Shilton is one of the greatest English goalkeepers of all time. He had a 30-year career, including spells at 11 clubs and played in over 1,000 league games. Some of the clubs he played for were Leicester City, West Ham United, Coventry City, Bolton Wanderers, Plymouth Argyle, and Plymouth Argyle. Peter Shilton retired in 1997.

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18. Michel Preud'homme - Benfica (retired)

• Full name: Michel Preud'homme
• Date of birth: 24 January 1959
• Age: 64 years
• Nationality: Belgian
• Last/current team: Benfica (retired)
• Career honours: Belgian Golden Shoe of the 20th Century (5th) in 1995, IFFHS European Keeper of the Century (19th) in 2000, Best European Goalkeeper of the Year in 1994, and FIFA World Cup All-Star Team in 1994

Michel Preud'homme is a retired footballer and manager who played as a goalkeeper. He is the sitting vice president and sports director at Standard Liège. He was considered one of the world's best and most consistent goalkeepers during his professional career. Michel Preud'homme retired at Benfica in 1999.

17. Giampiero Combi - Juventus (retired and deceased)

• Full name: Gianpiero Combi
• Date of birth: 20 November 1902
• Date of death: 12 August 1956
• Age at death: 53 years
• Nationality: Italian
• Last/current team: Juventus (retired and deceased)
• Career honours: Central European International Cup in 1927-30, 1933-35, Central European International Cup: Runner-up: 1931-32, and FIFA World Cup in 1934

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The late Gianpiero Combi spent his entire club career at Juventus, where he won five Italian League titles. He was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world during the 1930s and is regarded as one of Italy's best-ever goalkeepers.

16. Ricardo Zamora - Real Madrid (retired and deceased)

• Full name: Ricardo Zamora Martínez
• Date of birth: 21 January 1901
• Date of death: 8 September 1978
• Age at death: 77 years
• Nationality: Spanish
• Last/current team: Real Madrid
• Career honours: FIFA World Cup Best Goalkeeper Award in 1934, Berlin-Britz Goalkeeper of the Decade (1920s), and IFFHS Best Spanish Goalkeeper of the Twentieth Century

The late Ricardo Zamora was a footballer and manager. He played as a goalkeeper for, among others, RCD Espanyol, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. He also played for Catalan XI and Spain at the international level. He had all the virtues imaginable in a goalkeeper, which is why he was known as The divine one.

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15. Edwin van der Sar - Manchester United (retired)

• Full name: Edwin van der Sar
• Date of birth: 29 October 1970
• Age: 53 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Dutch
• Last/current team: Manchester United (retired)
• Career honours: Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year in 1994, 1995, 1996, & 1997, UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009, Best European Goalkeeper in 1999 & 2009, and Dutch Golden Shoe in 1998

Edwin van der Sar was an exceptional sportsman and athlete. He helped the Red Devils to clinch four Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. He retired in 2011 but came out in 2016 to play a match for the Dutch amateur team, VV Noordwijk. Edwin van der Sar is the chief executive officer of Ajax.

14. Gordon Banks - St Patrick's Athletic (retired and deceased)

• Full name: Gordon Banks
• Date of birth: 30 December 1937
• Date of death: 12 February 2019
• Age: 81 years
• Nationality: English
• Last/current team: St Patrick's Athletic (retired and deceased)
• Career honours: FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, and 1971, FWA Footballer of the Year in 1972, and Daily Express Sportsmen of the Year in 1971 and 1972

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Gordon Banks was one of the best English goalkeepers of all time. He made 73 appearances for his country and was named the IFFHS' second-best goalkeeper of the 20th century. His career was cut short when his right eye lost sight due to a car accident that happened on 22 October 1972.

13. Peter Schmeichel - Manchester City (retired)

• Full name: Peter Bolesław Schmeichel
• Date of birth: 18 November 1963
• Age: 60 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Danish
• Last/current team: Manchester City (retired)
• Career honours: Det Gyldne Bur (Goalkeeper of the Year in the Danish League) in 1987, 1988, 1990, & 1992, UEFA Goalkeeper of the Year in 1992, 1993, & 1998, and Premier League Player of the Season in 1995–96

Peter Schmeichel is a former professional goalkeeper. During eight seasons at English club Manchester United, he captained the club to victory in the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final. He also played with the Danish national team, with whom he won the UEFA Euro 1992. Peter Schmeichel played his last season at Peter Schmeichel before retiring in 2003.

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12. Oliver Kahn - Bayern Munich

• Full name: Oliver Rolf Kahn
• Date of birth: 15 June 1969
• Age: 54 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: German
• Last/current team: Bayern Munich
• Career honours: Best Bundesliga Keeper in 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, & 2002, IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 1999, 2001, & 2002, and Best European Goalkeeper in 1999, 2000, 2001, & 2002

Retired goalkeeper Oliver Rolf Kahn is ranked among Germany's most distinguished footballers. Bayern Munich won eight Bundesliga titles, six German Cups, six League Cups, a UEFA Cup, and a Champions League when he was a goalie for the team.

11. Petr Čech - Arsenal (retired)

• Full name: Petr Čech
• Date of birth: 20 May 1982
• Age: 41 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Czech
• Last/current team: Arsenal (retired)
• Career honours: Best Goalkeeper of French League in 2003–04, IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 2005, and Best European Goalkeeper: 2005, 2007, 2008, & 2012

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Petr Čechis among the best goalkeepers in Premier League history. He achieved many UEFA Champions League and Europa League titles in his career. Petr Cech now plays semi-professional ice hockey as Chelmsford Chieftains' goaltender and is Chelsea's technical and performance advisor.

10. Dino Zoff - Juventus (retired)

• Full name: Dino Zoff
• Date of birth: 28 February 1942
• Age: 81 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Italian
• Last/current team: Juventus
• Career honours: FIFA World Cup Best Goalkeeper in 1982, Berlin-Britz Goalkeeper of the Decade (1970s) in 1999, and IFFHS Italian Goalkeeper of the 20th Century in 1999

Dino Zoff made history as the oldest player to win a World Cup at 40 while captaining the Italian squad. His last international team was Juventus. Dino Zoff made his final appearance with the Italian national team on 29 May 1983 and retired on 2 June 1983.

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9. Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich

• Full name: Manuel Peter Neuer
• Date of birth: 27 March 1986
• Age: 37 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: German
• Last/current team: Bayern Munich
• Career honours: Footballer of the Year in Germany in 2011 and 2014, Best European Goalkeeper in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2020, AIPS Athlete of the Year in 2014, and The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper in 2020

Neuer is among the few goalkeepers who can play other positions. Football fans once persuaded him to take the midfielder position. He assumes the roles of a defender or free-kick taker any time Bayern trails behind in important games. Manuel Neuer has been playing for Bayern Munich since 2011.

8. Iker Casillas - Real Madrid (retired)

• Full name: Iker Casillas Fernández
• Date of birth: 20 May 1981
• Age: 42 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Spanish
• Last/current team as a player: Real Madrid (retired)
• Career honours: La Liga Best Goalkeeper in 2009 and 2012, IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, & 2012, and La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2000

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Iker Casillas Fernández is among the seven keepers who have won the UCL thrice. He played 725 times for Real Madrid during his 16-year senior career before joining FC Porto in 2015. Iker Casillas was Spain's first-choice goalkeeper from 2008 to 2012. He retired in August 2020 and is now the deputy to the Real Madrid Foundation CEO.

7. Gianluigi Buffon - Parma (retired)

• Full name: Gianluigi Buffon
• Date of birth: 28 January 1978
• Age: 48 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Italian
• Last/current team as a player: Parma (retired)
• Career honours: Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year Award in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, & 2017, UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2002–03, and IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, & 2017

Gianluigi was once named the best goalkeeper in the world. Numerous football pundits consider him to be the greatest Italian shot-stopper of all time in the 2000s. Between 1997 and 2018, the Juventus star played 178 times for Italy, winning the World Cup in 2006. Gianluigi Buffon retired in 2023. He is among the few recorded players with over 1,100 professional career appearances.

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6. Mike Maignan - AC Milan

• Full name: Mike Peterson Maignan
• Date of birth: 3 July 1995
• Age: 28 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: French
• Last/current team as a player: AC Milan
• Career honours: UNFP Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year in 2018–19 and Serie A Best Goalkeeper in 2021–22

AC Milan's Mike Maignan plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club AC Milan and the France national team. He played for Paris Saint-Germain and Lille before joining AC Milan. Mike Maignan made his senior international debut in 2020. He was selected in the French squad for UEFA Euro 2020.

5. Carl Ikeme - Doncaster Rovers (loan) (retired)

• Full name: Carl Onora Ikeme
• Date of birth: 8 June 1986
• Age: 37 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: English
• Last/current team as a player: Doncaster Rovers (loan) (retired)
• Career honours: Football League One Team of the Season: 2013–14 and PFA Team of the Year: 2013–14 League One

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Carl Ikeme, a retired player, was the longest-serving Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper. He never signed a permanent contract with another club despite spending 15 years on loan at eight different clubs. Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia a year before the 2018 World Cup. He beat the illness but did not return to the field.

4. Richard Kingson - Great Olympics (retired)

• Full name: Richard Kingson
• Date of birth: 13 June 1978
• Age: 45 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Ghanaian
• Last/current team as a player: Great Olympics (retired)
• Career honours: Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament in 2008 and 2010 and Africa Cup of Nations runner-up in 2010 and third place in 2008

Retired footballer Richard Kingson is one of the top 10 greatest goalkeepers of all time. He played in two FIFA World Cups and five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic, Blackpool, and Galatasaray are among the international clubs he played for. He remains one of the best African goalkeepers ever.

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3. Édouard Mendy - Al-Ahli

• Full name: Édouard Osoque Mendy
• Date of birth: 1 March 1992
• Age: 31 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: French
• Last/current team as a player: Al-Ahli
• Career honours: The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper in 2021, UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season in 2020–21, and Africa Cup of Nations Best Goalkeeper in 2021

Édouard Osoque Mendy is a goalkeeper for Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and the Senegal national team. He was named the best goalkeeper in the world during the 2021 FIFA Best Awards. Édouard Mendy remains one of the greatest EPL goalkeepers of all time.

2. Andre Arendse - Bidvest Wits (retired)

• Full name: Andre Leander Arendse
• Date of birth: 27 June 1967
• Age: 56 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: South African
• Last/current team as a player: Bidvest Wits (retired)
• Career honours:

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Arendse made his debut in 1991 for Cape Town Spurs. He was loaned to Cape Town side Santos in 1992. He later played professionally for Oxford United, Fulham, Santos, Mamelodi Sundowns, and SuperSport United. Andre Arendse is one of the greatest African goalkeepers of all time.

1. Bruce David Grobbelaar - Glasshoughton Welfare (retired)

• Full name: Bruce David Grobbelaar
• Date of birth: 6 October 1957
• Age: 66 years (as of 2023)
• Nationality: Zimbabwean
• Last/current team as a player: Glasshoughton Welfare (retired)
• Career honours: FA Charity Shield in 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, & 1990, European Cup in 1983–84, and Football League Super Cup in 1986

Grobbelaar is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time in the history of the game. He played for the Zimbabwean national team and multiple clubs between 1973 and 2007. Bruce Grobbelaar is remembered for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence, and eccentric flamboyant style.

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