25 Greatest Goalkeepers in Football History (Ranked)
· GiveMeSport
Gianluigi Buffon, Manuel Neuer, Petr Cech and more, we rank the best shot-stoppers that have ever played football.
Behind every successful football team is a top-quality goalkeeper. Acting as the final barrier of defence, their crucial saves, last-minute heroics and composure in between the sticks can be the difference between success and failure.
An outfield player can make a mistake and get away with it; a goalkeeper can't. As they play with hopes and dreams on their backs, they have to perform at the highest level every week.
Elite goalkeepers are capable of winning points almost single-handedly and the very best are often held in the highest regard by the clubs they've starred for.
Liverpool struggled with Loris Karius in goal during 2018, as the German made two crucial mistakes to see the Reds lose the Champions League final to Real Madrid . They bought Alisson Becker in the summer of 2018, helping them win the Champions League a year later. It showcases how crucial they are.
To honour their efforts between the posts, here are the greatest goalkeepers of all time. Each player's selection and ranking has been carefully considered, using ranking factors which are outlined below.
Hugo Lloris was at the heart of Tottenham's modern-day 'golden era' from 2012 until 2024. He was their captain under manager Mauricio Pochettino, providing experience in the key matches. The Frenchman was a world-class goalkeeper season after season, with a string of penalty saves in the 2018/19 campaign helping Spurs secure Champions League football and reach the final.
However, he never won a trophy with the Lilywhites, unlike his time as France captain. Lloris became a world champion with Les Bleus in 2018, and he was unfortunate to miss out on a second World Cup winner's medal four years later. The former Tottenham captain was also a runner-up in the 2016 European Championships, but he was victorious in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League. A stalwart between the posts for years, he went on to become his country's most-capped player, with manager Didier Deschamps hailing him as "exemplary" for his years of service.
- Years Active: 2005 - Present - Notable Clubs: OGC Nice, Lyon, Tottenham, LAFC - International Caps: 145
Earning the nickname "the Iron Curtain," Rinat Dasayev made a name for himself with Spartak Moscow for remarkable saves. Spending most of his years at the Russian club in the 1980s, he was renowned for his one-handed stops and remarkable athleticism.
Dasayev was the Soviet Union's goalkeeper and captain during their impressive run to the finals of Euro 1988. He was a part of the side which beat England 3-1 to confirm the Three Lions' exit from the competition, but is arguably remembered most of all for being the 'keeper who was beaten in goal after Marco van Basten's stunning volley. Still, he'd been impressive enough at that tournament and throughout the year to be named the best goalkeeper in the world.
- Years Active: 1976 - 1990 - Notable Clubs: Volgar, Spartak Moscow, Sevilla - International Caps: 91
Michel Preud'homme came through the ranks at Standard Liege, spending nine years with the Belgian club before going on to represent Mechelen and then Portuguese titans Benfica. Although he was only at the Eagles for the final five years of his career, he earned the name 'Saint Michel' by supporters for his heroics between the posts.
On the international stage, Preud'homme was equally impressive. Having been a back-up 'keeper during the Red Devils' run to the final of Euro 1980, he took centre stage at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, ensuring his country reached the round of 16. That tournament also saw him bestowed with the inaugural Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
- Years Active: 1977 - 1999 - Notable Teams: Standard Liege, Mechelen, Benfica - International Caps: 58
After coming through the ranks of Inter Milan and a series of loan moves to Salernitana, Savona and Sambenedettese, Walter Zenga was eventually given the opportunity to be the nerrazurri's number one. And he made the position his own for years before he departed the club in 1994.
Named the best goalkeeper in the world for three years, the Italian helped his side lift the Serie A in 1988/89, an impressive achievement considering how much of a powerhouse their rivals AC Milan were at that time. Also his country's first-choice shot-stopper, Zenga ensured Italy finished third at their home World Cup in 1990, repeating an achievement that the Azzurri managed at Euro 1988.
- Years Active: 1977 - 1999 - Notable Clubs: Inter Milan, Sampdoria, New England Revolution - International Caps: 58
Peter Shilton is one of the best English goalkeepers ever. He is most well-known for his contribution to Nottingham Forest's two European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980. Brian Clough heralded Shilton as being even better than World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks , as he also helped the East Midlands club secure the First Division title in 1978.
Shilton made 125 appearances for his country, playing in some high-profile World Cup matches, including the quarter-final against Argentina, where Diego Maradona scored the infamous 'Hand of God' goal past him. Although he was unable to secure a major tournament for the Three Lions, he holds the record for the most caps for his country.
- Years Active: 1966 - 1997 - Notable Clubs: Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby, West Ham - International Caps: 126
Andoni Zubizarreta is a Spanish football legend, representing his country 126 times from 1985 to 1998. He played in seven major tournaments for his country, captaining his country to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.
Zubizarretta also had an illustrious club career, playing for the likes of Barcelona , Valencia, and Athletic Bilbao. He won La Liga twice for the Basque side, including the league and cup double in the 1983/84 season, but his main success was in Catalonia. As a Barcelona player, Zubizarreta played an integral part in securing six La Liga titles, as well as the 1991/92 European Cup under the management of Johan Cruyff. The Spanish goalkeeper was ahead of his time in terms of his ability with the ball at his feet and ease under pressure.
- Years active: 1979 - 1998 - Notable Clubs: Alaves, Athletic Bilbao, Barcelona, Valencia - International Caps: 126
In the annals of Spanish football, not many players have a legacy like Ricardo Zamora. Playing most of his football at Espanyol, he also featured for both Barcelona and Real Madrid during the 1920s and 30s, becoming one of La Roja's earliest football stars.
In 1930, Zamora was between the sticks as Spain became the first side outside the British Isles to beat England in a competitive match, playing with a broken sternum as his country ran out 4-3 victors. There is a common saying throughout Spain which underlines El Divino's incredible talent: "there are only two goalkeepers: Ricardo Zamora on Earth and St Peter in Heaven." Moreover, the goalkeeper with the lowest goals-to-game ratio in La Liga each season is now given the 'Zamora Trophy,' a testament to the goalkeeper's sporting legacy.
- Years Active: 1916 - 1938 - Notable Clubs: Espanyol, Barcelona, Real Madrid, OGC Nice - International Caps: 46
Dino Zoff was an ever-present member of the Juventus and Italy teams throughout the 1970s. His most notable achievement is undoubtedly his 1982 World Cup triumph for the Azzurri, where he captained the side to glory. After finishing runner-up in 1970, it was looking as if Zoff would go his whole career without a World Cup triumph, but 1982 saw the legendary goalkeeper win the trophy at the age of 40.
> Key Statistic: Dino Zoff is the oldest player to win the World Cup.
At club level, he was even more successful, winning six Serie A titles as well as two Coppa Italia titles and a UEFA Cup. Hailed as a "legend" by shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon , the only thing that Zoff didn't tick off his resume was the European Cup. He was a runner-up in 1973 and a decade later, when Juventus lost to Hamburger SV.
- Years Active: 1961 - 1983 - Notable Clubs: Udinese, Mantova, Napoli, Juventus - International Caps: 112
Although most football supporters will name Pele or Garrincha first when asked about Brazil's World Cup-winning squads of 1958 and 1962, Gilmar was an equally important cog in the machinery. Arguably one of the best goalkeepers of the 20th century, he was the last line of defence for two of the Selecao's most famous triumphs on the international stage, conceding just four times in their 1958 success.
Along with his 93 caps for the national side, Gilmar was a key presence for both Corinthians and Santos during the 1950s and 60s. His calmness between the sticks saw him win multiple pieces of silverware, particularly with the latter, as he collected five Serie A titles, along with two Copa Libertadores.
- Years Active: 1950 - 1970 - Notable Teams: Corinthians, Santos - International Caps: 93
Neville Southall began his career in English football at Bury in 1980, before joining Everton a year later. Southall spent 17 years at the Merseyside club, winning two league titles, two FA Cups, and the 1984/85 European Cup Winners' Cup. He remains the all-time record appearance holder for the Toffees and is still renowned as one of the best players in the club's history .
In the 1980s, Southall was well-recognised as the best goalkeeper in English football, with Jamie Carragher even naming him the best goalkeeper ever . In the 1984/85 title-winning campaign, Southall picked up the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. He also made 92 appearances for Wales, making his debut on 27th May 1982.
- Years Active: 1974 - 2004 - Notable Clubs: Bury, Everton, Port Vale, Stoke City, Torquay, Bradford - International Caps: 92