The best goalkeepers in the world used to be simple to define – but the position has evolved so much in the last decade or so.
30 years ago, custodians used to be the madmen and mavericks of your club, throwing themselves in front of shots and being the last line of defence. Well now, they're so much more: they're the first line of attack, another outfielder in buildup and the position has evolved to new heights.
It made deciding this list difficult to say the least…
How our experts decided the best goalkeepers in the world
FourFourTwo's football experts were asked to provide their list of the 10 best goalkeepers on the planet as of February 2025, based not just on technical ability and current form, but taking their standing in the game over the past few years into account too.
Each player ranked first by someone was given 10 points, second given nine points, and so on. 19 goalkeepers made the shortlist with our honourable mentions just missing the cut.
Goalkeeper is one of 10 positions in which we have compiled a list of the best players in the world. We have split all outfielders into three subsections of positions under defence (right-backs, centre-backs and left-backs), midfield (defensive midfielders, central midfielders and attacking midfielders), and attack (right-wingers, left-wingers and strikers).
If you're looking for the best goalkeeper gloves to buy, then we've got you covered – while our list of the best players in the world right now covers those between the sticks. Let's go!
Honourable mentions
Honourable mentions
The full list
10. Yann Sommer
Age: 36
Club: Inter Milan
Nationality: Switzerland
Yann Sommer has never been one of the flashier goalkeepers in Europe, somewhat quietly going about his business during a 10-year spell with Borussia Monchengladbach. But he has been rightly recognised as one of the world’s best since he stepped out of his comfort zone to fill in for Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich in 2023.
That saw him land a move to Inter Milan, where his performances between the sticks were key in last season’s Serie A win, with Sommer one of the standout performers in the league.
9. Gianluigi Donnarumma
Age: 25
Club: Paris Saint-Germain
Nationality: Italy
Already closing in on 500 senior appearances for club and country, it’s easy to forget that the Italy captain is just 25 years old and has at least another decade at the top level – Gigi Donnarumma is also one of the best goalkeepers of the 2010s, too.
His career has been somewhat streaky, taking a dip after his brilliant showing for Italy in their Euro 2020 win, but his performances for the Azzurri last summer, including a penalty save from Luca Modric to help claim a draw against Croatia, suggest that he is again moving in the right direction.
8. Manuel Neuer
Age: 38
Club: Bayern Munich
Nationality: Germany
Neuer never seems to go a few weeks without setting a new record or reaching a new landmark.
After announcing his international retirement last year, the era-defining Neuer’s career is winding down, but his Champions League performances over the past 12 months have served as a reminder that he still has plenty to offer.
The 38-year-old recently extended his Bayern contract until the end of the 2025/26 season and never seems to go a few weeks without setting a new record or reaching a new landmark, with his 250th clean sheet for Bayern coming in October. He was included in the greatest team of FourFourTwo’s lifetime last year: he’s still one of the best in the world.
7. Unai Simon
Age: 27
Club: Athletic Club
Nationality: Spain
After winning the first major domestic honour of his career when he helped Athletic to victory in the Copa del Rey last season, the 27-year-old Simon showed that he was Iker Casillas’ heir in the national team as La Roja stormed to the Euro 2024 title.
The composed, reliable goalkeeper is already approaching 50 caps with his national team and seems to be getting better with every season.
6. Jan Oblak
Age: 32
Club: Atletico Madrid
Nationality: Slovenia
A mainstay in these sort of debates for a decade now, the Slovenian has been Diego Simeone’s rock at Atletico since 2014, offering consistency and longevity to his list of qualities that include speed, agility, fast reflexes, positioning and leadership – basically everything you want from a world-class goalkeeper.
Last summer also saw him become just the second goalkeeper (after Brazilian stopper Diego Alves) to save penalties from both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo when he denied the latter during Slovenia’s Euro 2024 quarter-final exit to Portugal.
5. David Raya
Age: 29
Club: Arsenal
Nationality: Spain
This season, Raya's added the clutch gene to his game.
Eyebrows were raised when Arsenal replaced a very capable goalkeeper with David Raya – who started shakily between the sticks. Since those early days, however, the Spaniard has become one of the most reliable players in the Premier League, not just for his distribution and ability with his feet but a consistent ability to claim crosses and dominate his penalty area from set-pieces.
This season, he’s added the clutch gene to his game with astonishing double-saves against Atalanta and Aston Villa the highlights of him keeping Arsenal towards the top of the table. Signing him for around £30m now looks a steal, with his composure radiating through the Gunners’ defence.
4. Emiliano Martinez
Age: 32
Club: Aston Villa
Nationality: Argentina
While Big Emi hasn’t quite maintained the kind of form that saw him bag a World Cup winner’s medal with Argentina and help drive Aston Villa into the Champions League of late, it’s hard to argue that too many players should be ahead of him on this list.
Expectations at Villa are evolving and Martinez remains the player for the biggest of games as he enters what should be his peak years for both club and country. A stunning save against Nottingham Forest earlier this season highlighted what he does that few others can in the biggest of moments.
3. Mike Maignan
Age: 29
Club: Milan
Nationality: France
Now established as France’s number one following Hugo Lloris’ retirement from the national setup, Maignan played every game at Euro 2024 and was named as the best goalkeeper at the tournament after conceding just three goals in six games – two of which were to eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals.
Maignan has not played for Milan as much as he might have liked in the last year thanks to various injury issues, but has been missed when he’s been gone. The custodian is going from strength to strength and will likely be on this list for another few years yet, given that he's 29 – a spring chicken, in keepers' terms.
2. Alisson Becker
Age: 32
Club: Liverpool
Nationality: Brazil
Alisson is, quite simply, a legend at this point.
As reliable as goalkeepers come, Alisson has been exceptional at the top level for several years now, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best ever No.1s since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018, when he became the club’s third-most expensive signing ever.
It was money very well spent. At 32, there is likely plenty more to come from the Brazilian, who has 71 caps to his name for Selecao at the time of writing – despite having to compete with Ederson between the sticks. He is, quite simply, a legend at this point.
1. Thibaut Courtois
Age: 32
Club: Real Madrid
Nationality: Belgium
The Belgian had a testing start to 2024, when he tore his meniscus, just as he was stepping up his recovery from an ACL tear the previous summer. But what followed was classic Thibaut Courtois, as he would recover just in time to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League final as Real Madrid saw off Borussia Dortmund to claim their 15th European crown.
A falling out with Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco meant the former Chelsea stopper missed Euro 2024, but the towering 32-year-old has put his injury woes behind him and is back to his dominating best at the Bernabeu this season.
