Many consider the goalkeeper position to be the easiest in football, as there is no need to run or exert yourself, and jumping into the corner and deflecting the ball is a piece of cake. In reality, being a goalkeeper is just as difficult as playing any other position. Nevertheless, there are goalkeepers in the history of soccer who play so well in their penalty area that they strike fear into the hearts of even the best strikers on the planet. So, it's time to take a look at the ranking of the best goalkeepers of all time.
10. Edwin van der Sar (Netherlands)
The Dutchman Edwin van der Sar opens this TOP list. This goalkeeper has been excellent since his debut at Ajax and throughout his career. With each passing year, Edwin improved his skills, and his experience allowed him to avoid mistakes he had made in the past. The Dutchman played for four clubs: Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United, and also played 130 matches for the national team.
Many consider Edwin to be the best goalkeeper in terms of footwork, which was not highly valued at the time. Van der Sar did not win a single trophy at the national team level, only two bronze medals at the European Championships, but the goalkeeper won many titles at the club level, including the UEFA Champions League. In 2008, the Dutchman won the long-awaited Champions League with Manchester United, thereby writing his name in football history as the oldest goalkeeper to win the tournament. If you enjoy sports legends and games of chance, you might also want to check out Slotozen no deposit bonus codes for some exciting online gaming opportunities.
9. Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Neuer is a true master. This German stands out among all modern goalkeepers. Manuel's main strength is not his excellent handwork, but his ability to work with his feet. Fans often refer to Neuer as an extra defender. He is a master at keeping the ball at his feet and is capable of delivering both short and long passes with precision.
The German goalkeeper is valued in world football not only for his footwork. For many years, Manuel has reliably defended the goal of Bayern Munich, often seen wearing kits adorned with iconic sports brand logos. In 2014, he won the World Cup with the German national team. In the same year, Neuer took third place in France Football's Golden Ball pool.
8. Peter Shilton (England)
Shilton is a legend of English football and is rightly considered the best goalkeeper in the country's history. Consistency, intelligent positioning, concentration and many other qualities helped Peter perform successfully at both club and international level. The legendary Briton was the leader of Nottingham Forest, a team that won the European Cup two seasons in a row.
During his 30-year professional career, Peter Shilton played 1,391 official matches in all competitions, which is an absolute world record to this day. Shilton did not achieve great heights with the Three Lions, but he played in three World Cups and two European Championships.
7. Gianluigi Buffon (England)
For many fans, Gigi Buffon is the best goalkeeper in the history of football. Indeed, the Italian's successes between the posts deserve enormous praise. One of the most expensive goalkeepers in football, his coolness has saved his team on numerous occasions, whether it be Parma, Juventus, PSG or the Italian national team. His ability to anticipate the actions of the striker, then make a brilliant save and pull out a ‘dead’ ball has thrilled audiences hundreds of times.
Buffon is over 40 years old, but he has not left the field. In his career, Gigi has won everything he could, except for one club tournament. The UEFA Champions League, the most prestigious tournament in Europe, has never been conquered by ‘Superman.’ Buffon has won Serie A, the Italian Cup and the Super Cup several times, and was also the winner of the 2006 World Cup. Some football fans also believe that Gianluigi deserves the Golden Ball, but the Italian has never won the award.
6. Iker Casillas (Spain)
Iker began his professional career at a very young age, and not just any team, but Real Madrid. Youth and inexperience did not deter Iker. From his very first matches for the ‘royal club,’ the player was remembered for his confident actions and immediately gained the trust of the coaching staff. Year after year, Casillas became one of the best goalkeepers not only in the country but also in the world. With Real Madrid, the Spaniard won every title, including three Champions League trophies. Iker also proved himself at the national level. With La Roja, the goalkeeper won the World Cup in 2010 and two European Championships (2008 and 2012).
5. Gordon Banks (England)
Another English goalkeeper who rivals Shilton for the title of best in his country. Although Gordon Banks did not win as many titles and awards during his career as other goalkeepers, he made his mark on football history as one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the world. Banks achieved great success at the 1966 World Cup on home soil. The goalkeeper went on a long run without conceding a goal in the tournament, only to be beaten by Eusebio from the penalty spot in the semi-finals. England won that World Cup, as we all know, and Gordon was named the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Banks is also famous in football for his incredible acrobatic save at the 1970 World Cup. The Briton somehow managed to pull off a save from a powerful shot by the legendary Pelé, earning himself a fantastic ovation from the stands.
Gordon Banks lost one eye in a car accident, but even with his injury, he continued to do what he loved and defended his goal just as successfully. England had such a great goalkeeper, and the current generation is far from Banks, nicknamed ‘Fernandel.’
4. Peter Schmeichel (Denmark)
This Danish goalkeeper was a real beast in the penalty area. He was considered a revolutionary ahead of his time, and Peter's style of play still inspires the current generation of goalkeepers. Thanks to his ability to save balls in a ‘starfish’ style (with his arms and legs spread as wide as possible), Peter became famous all over the world. In this way, the Dane saved a lot of ‘dead balls’.
The name Schmeichel is most closely associated with Manchester United. Indeed, Peter made his name with the Red Devils and even captained the team. With Manchester United, the goalkeeper won five English Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Schmeichel also paid tribute to his native country by winning the European Championship with the national team in 1992. Incidentally, Peter has a son, Kasper Schmeichel, who is also a goalkeeper and plays in the Premier League, albeit for Leicester City.
3. Dino Zoff (Italy)
The only person who prevents Gigi Buffon from being considered the best Italian goalkeeper is Dino Zoff, who conquered the world with his magnificent play and deservedly takes third place in this ranking. At club level, Zoff played successfully for Napoli and Juventus: the goalkeeper showed his best form with the Old Lady, winning six Italian championships, two Italian Cups and a UEFA Cup. As part of the Italian national team, Dino won the 1968 European Championship and, as captain, the 1982 World Cup at the age of 40. Zoff played from 1961 to 1983, and the current generation of football fans are unfamiliar with the incredible Italian's playing style. Believe us, he was magnificent; there are very few players like him!
2. Oliver Kahn (Germany)
A titan and an impenetrable wall, the best German goalkeeper of all time, who even the amazing Manuel Neuer cannot compare to. Oliver Kahn enjoyed a magnificent career with Bayern Munich and the German national team. He always came to the rescue of his teams when the defence was powerless to do anything about the opponent's attack. Oliver was excellent in one-on-one situations, making amazing acrobatic saves, pulling balls out of the top corner, and heroically saving penalties. In the 2001 Champions League final against Spanish side Valencia, it was the German goalkeeper's saves in the penalty shootout that allowed ‘FC Hollywood’ to win the trophy for the first time in 25 years.
Kahn won everything at club level, but with the German national team he only managed to win the 1996 European Championship, while at the World Cups he only won bronze and silver. In 2002, Kahn was close to winning the World Cup, but in the final, he was beaten twice by the incredible Ronaldo, and in the end, Germany lost 2-0 to Brazil. It should be noted that Oliver Kahn won the Golden Ball as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
1. Lev Yashin (Soviet Union)
Yashin is the best goalkeeper of all time. This is the choice of our editorial team and many other authoritative Russian and foreign publications. Like few other players in the current ranking, Lev played in an era unknown to most fans of modern football, but the Soviet keeper did his job superbly.
Known by the nicknames ‘Black Spider’ and ‘Black Panther,’ Yashin was famous for his athleticism, his ability to choose the right position in goal, the courage he showed in every match, as well as his fantastic acrobatics and amazing reflexes. Lev evolved as a goalkeeper when he began giving orders to the defence and other team members, realising that he could read the game much better from his position.
The fearless Yashin was never afraid to go into a tackle with an opponent. This magnificent goalkeeper played his entire career for Moscow Dynamo, with whom he won the Soviet championship five times. The ‘Black Panther’ was the best player in the Soviet national team at the time, with which he won the first European Football Championship in history. During his career, Yashin won many different awards, but the most important of these was the Golden Ball. It was the first and only time that this individual prize was won by a goalkeeper.