Ranking the 10 Best Goalkeepers in Football History

Behind every exceptional football team lies a world-class goalkeeper, but who stands out as the greatest to have ever graced the goalposts?

In what is arguably the most underappreciated position in football, goalkeepers are frequently overshadowed by the more glamorous positions on the field.

It's one of the most demanding roles on the pitch, demanding unwavering focus, composure, and the capacity to make critical saves at any point in a match. But do goalkeepers receive the recognition they deserve?

Goalkeepers are frequently overshadowed by the more glamorous positions on the team.

While names like Pele, Diego Maradona, Johan Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and numerous other outfield players are often mentioned, the contributions of goalkeepers are sometimes overlooked.

Shouldn't players like Manuel Neuer, Gianluigi Buffon, and Lev Yashin, who have left a significant mark on the game, also be included in the discussion?

10. Peter Shilton

In terms of enduring excellence, Shilton stands unmatched among top goalkeepers, boasting a remarkable career spanning slightly over three decades, per GOAL.

Astonishingly, he retained the coveted position as England's primary keeper during the Italia '90 tournament, an accolade he secured despite being 40 years old at the time.

Shilton served as the driving force behind Nottingham Forest's subsequent league championship victory and clinched two European Cup triumphs for the club.

9. Edwin van der Sar

Although van der Sar did not win any national honours with the Netherlands, a country where he earned a remarkable 130 caps, his illustrious club career secured his place on this list.

The Dutchman displayed excellence while representing Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, and Manchester United - a noteworthy accomplishment.

His career highlights include winning the Champions League with Ajax in 1995 and with Manchester United in 2008, solidifying his position as the select few players to have achieved this feat with two different clubs.

Van der Sar also claimed the UEFA Cup and multiple league titles in the Netherlands and England, with his final Premier League victory at Old Trafford in 2011 making him the oldest-ever player to secure the title at 40 years and 205 days.

8. Manuel Neuer

Although Neuer may not be the originator of the 'sweeper-keeper' role, he undeniably stands out as its most accomplished practitioner.

Through his exceptional performances for both Bayern Munich and Germany, he revolutionised the traditional image of a goalkeeper by assuming the role of an additional defensive player and a crucial playmaker from the back.

In the past, goalkeepers were often overlooked when it came to individual recognition, but Neuer's contributions earned him widespread praise and admiration. This was evident in 2014 when he secured the third position in the Ballon d'Or voting after leading Germany to victory in the World Cup held in Brazil.

7. Peter Schmeichel

With immense physicality, size, and agility, Schmeichel instilled fear in opposing attackers who found it arduous to breach the colossal Danish goalkeeper with his iconic 'star jumps'.

He served as an exemplary figure for aspiring goalkeepers and even Iker Casillas credited him as his role model.

Beyond Schmeichel's shot-stopping abilities, the Man United icon earned acclaim for his precision and power in delivering long throws, a weapon he utilised to launch swift and devastating counter-attacks.

While at Old Trafford, he secured an impressive tally of 15 trophies, but his crowning achievement came in 1992 when he played a pivotal role in Denmark's astonishing victory at the European Championship in Sweden.

6. Dino Zoff

Whether donning the Juventus jersey or representing Italy, Zoff's presence in goal commanding and majestic.

With an extraordinary career that included clinching six Scudetti with Juve and leading Italy to World Cup triumph in Spain in 1982, he achieved an astounding feat by lifting the trophy at the remarkable age of 40 years, 4 months, and 13 days, making him the oldest player ever to do so.

Moreover, Zoff holds the illustrious distinction of being only the second captain and goalkeeper to raise the World Cup trophy.

Additionally, his name is etched in history for another incredible record - the longest streak in international football without conceding a goal of an awe-inspiring 1,142 minutes, set between 1972 and 1974.

5. Gordon Banks

Banks will forever be etched in football history for his iconic moment during the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico, famously known as 'That Save'. Against all odds, he managed to divert Pele's close-range header over the bar, a save that experts widely regard as the greatest in the sport's history.

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Though he may not have accumulated as many medals and trophies as some of his contemporaries, Banks played a pivotal role in England's triumphant 1966 World Cup campaign on home soil, where his team conceded just two goals throughout the tournament.

4. Oliver Khan

Kahn was an absolute colossus between the sticks for both Bayern Munich and Germany - and won everything there is to win at club level. The highlight of his career came in the shootout of the 2001 UCL final against Valencia as the Bavarians won their first European Cup in 25 years.

His performances in goal for Die Mannschaft at the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea/Japan virtually dragged his country single-handedly to the final, where they lost to Brazil.

However, Kahn made history when he became the first and only keeper to be named player of the tournament and win the coveted Golden Ball.

3. Gianluigi Buffon

Gigi first came into view as a 19-year-old when he replaced Gianluca Pagliuca for Italy’s crucial World Cup play-off first leg in Moscow.

He turned in a man-of-the-match display in the process and ever since, he performed miracles in goal for his country, as well as for Parma and Juventus.

The Old Lady bought the shot-stopper from Parma for a world-record fee of £32.5 million in 2001.

In the intervening 12 years, Buffon won multiple Serie A titles with Juve, and has been voted the best goalkeeper in Europe on numerous occasions.

Although, perhaps it is for the Azzurri he is best remembered, winning 123 caps and more importantly, playing a crucial role in Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph. He came in second in that year’s Ballon d’Or voting.

2. Lev Yashin

Yashin, the sole goalkeeper to have ever won the Ballon d'Or, was a true trailblazer in his position.

During an era when shot-stoppers were expected to stay on their line, the Russian defied convention and gained recognition for his fearlessness in charging out of the goal to claim crosses and challenge oncoming forwards.

Acknowledged as the goalkeeper of the 20th century by the IFFHS, Yashin was adored by fans for his flair and showmanship.

He mesmerised audiences with his breathtaking and acrobatic saves, while his distinctive all-black uniform, combined with his seemingly extra limbs, earned him the moniker 'The Black Spider'.

1. Iker Casillas

Casillas, a remarkable talent praised for his cat-like reflexes by Manuel Almunia, made a stunning breakthrough into Real Madrid's starting lineup at the tender age of 18.

He played a pivotal role at just 19 years old in guiding Los Blancos to victory in the 2000 Champions League final.

Over a decade, Casillas established himself as a regular starter for his club and the Spanish national team. He reached the pinnacle of his career by captaining the greatest international side in the sport's history.

This achievement earned him the prestigious IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award for an impressive five consecutive years from 2008 to 2012.

Casillas' leadership was instrumental in guiding La Roja to triumph in two European Championships and one World Cup, with success at Porto and two more Champions League titles cemented his legacy as the pinnacle of goalkeeping.

Buffon announces retirement from football

Sports Brief has also reported on Buffon announcing his retirement from football, bringing to a close an illustrious career spanning 28 years which included numerous accolades and titles.

From a debut clean sheet and becoming the world's most expensive goalkeeper, we looked back at the top 5 moments of the Italian legend's career as greater football pays tribute.