Gloves Off Interviews

Starting in 2024, the now revamped version of Inside the 18’s Gloves Off features interviews with retired goalkeepers. Highlighting the forgotten moments, standards of the times, and highs/lows with the goalkeeper’s career, Gloves Off aims to be a historical documentation of top goalkeepers from eras that came and went before the advent of social media.

Gloves Off Interviews

Lori Kats - First All-American Goalkeeper (1980)

Joan Schockow - 4x All-American Goalkeeper (1980-1983)

Heather Taggart - 2x All-American Goalkeeper (90-91), ‘91 GOTY

Jen Renola - 3x All-American Goalkeeper (94-96), 25th Anniversary Team

The World's Best Goalkeepers

Everybody Soccer returns with its installment of the top goalkeepers in the world. Goalkeepers are rated on their form with club and country, taking into account their success in shot-stopping, distribution, cross-management, and ability to improv on a broken play. To view past rankings, you can click here to see the prior lists in a spreadsheet or visit the list of the top 24 goalkeepers under 24 years old. Cover photo from Srdjan Stevanovic and Getty Images.

The rankings were last updated July 1st, 2025.

1. Alisson

Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s Brazilian wall, has redefined goalkeeping in the Premier League since joining from AS Roma in 2018 for a then-record £66.8 million. His knack for jaw-dropping saves and pinpoint distribution helped Liverpool win the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League, ending a 30-year title drought. A soccer tidbit: he scored a dramatic header against West Brom in 2021, becoming the first goalkeeper to net a competitive goal for Liverpool. In 2024-25, his 12 clean sheets kept Liverpool atop the league. At 33, he’s still Brazil’s No. 1, pushing for another World Cup run in 2026.

2. Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s towering Belgian, has been a defensive cornerstone since arriving from Chelsea in 2018, helping secure three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues by 2025. His 6’7” frame and cat-like reflexes shone in the 2022 Champions League final, where he made nine saves to stifle Liverpool. At the 2018 World Cup, he won the Golden Glove, proving his clutch factor on the global stage. Despite a 2023 ACL injury, he returned to form, posting 15 clean sheets in 2024-25. At 33, he’s still Real Madrid’s undisputed No. 1, eyeing more silverware.

3. Jan Oblak

Jan Oblak has been a brick wall since joining from Benfica in 2014, racking up five Zamora Trophies as La Liga’s best goalkeeper. His calm demeanor and uncanny shot-stopping led Atlético to the 2021 La Liga title and a 2024 Champions League semifinal run. Oblak holds the record for the fastest to 100 clean sheets in La Liga, hitting the mark in just 182 games. In 2024-25, his 14 clean sheets kept Atlético in the title race. At 32, he’s still the backbone of Diego Simeone’s gritty squad.

4. David de Gea

David de Gea, now with Fiorentina in Serie A after a storied 12-year stint at Manchester United, was once the Premier League’s gold standard, winning the Golden Glove in 2018 and 2023. His acrobatic saves, like the iconic 14-stop masterclass against Arsenal in 2017, defined his United legacy. He’s still the only goalkeeper to win Manchester United’s Player of the Year award three years running (2014-16). Since joining Fiorentina in 2024, he’s posted eight clean sheets in 2024-25, proving at 34 he’s still got it. He’s aiming to lead Spain at the 2026 World Cup.

5. David Raya

David Raya went from Brentford’s breakout star to the Gunners’ main man in net after a £27 million transfer in 2024. His fearless distribution and quick dives were crucial in Arsenal’s 2024 Premier League title push, where he notched 16 clean sheets. Raya is one of only two goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet in his first three Arsenal starts, matching a club record set in 1997. In 2024-25, his 13 shutouts have kept Arsenal in the hunt for the title. At 29 and a crowded depth chart, Raya has his work once again cut out for him to maintain his number one spot.

6. Gianluigi Donnarumma

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been a prodigy since debuting for AC Milan at 16 in 2015, and now, at 26, he’s already a Euro 2020 champion. His penalty shootout heroics against England in that final earned him the tournament’s Player of the Year. Donnarumma is the youngest goalkeeper to start a Champions League knockout match, doing so at 18 for Milan in 2017. With 11 clean sheets for PSG in 2024-25, he’s kept them atop Ligue 1. He’s now targeting a 2026 World Cup to cement his legacy as Italy’s greatest.

7. Emiliano Martinez

Emiliano Martínez went from Arsenal’s bench to World Cup glory in 2022, saving four penalties in shootouts to clinch the title for Argentina. His move to Villa in 2020 sparked a career revival, with his 15 clean sheets in 2022-23 earning him the Premier League Golden Glove. In back-to-back years (2022, 2023) Martínez won the Yashin Trophy. In 2024-25, his 10 clean sheets have Villa eyeing a Champions League spot. At 33, he’s Argentina’s undisputed No. 1, hungry for more trophies.

8. Alphonse Areola

Alphonse Areola has been a steady force since joining permanently from PSG in 2022, helping the Hammers win the 2023 Europa Conference League. His loan spells at Real Madrid and Fulham showcased his agility, but it’s at West Ham where he’s truly shone, with 12 clean sheets in 2024-25. Interestingly, he’s the only French goalkeeper to win a European trophy with an English club in the last decade. His dual Filipino-French heritage makes him a fan favorite globally. At 32, he’s pushing for a France recall ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

9. Iñaki Peña

Iñaki Peña, Barcelona’s homegrown goalkeeper, has been Marc-André ter Stegen’s deputy since breaking into the first team in 2018, stepping up in 2024-25 with 10 starts and five clean sheets during ter Stegen’s injury spells. A La Masia product, he won the 2023 La Liga title as a backup, but his recent performances show he’s ready for more. In 2023, Peña became one of only three goalkeepers to keep a clean sheet in El Clásico as a substitute. At 26, he’s patient but ambitious, eyeing Barcelona’s No. 1 spot and a Spain call-up.

10. Manuel Neuer

Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich’s legendary German goalkeeper, revolutionized the position with his “sweeper-keeper” style, winning 11 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues since joining in 2011. His heroics in Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph earned him the Golden Glove. Neuer’s longevity led him to rack up such records as most clean sheets in the Bundesliga, surpassing 200 in 2023. Despite a 2023 leg injury, he returned to form with 14 clean sheets in 2024-25, keeping Bayern dominant. At 39, he’s still Germany’s top choice, aiming to bow out at the 2026 World Cup.

Best of the Rest
rank. name - club, nationality (age)

11. Kepa Arrizabalaga - Arsenal, Spain (30)
12. Unai Simón - Athletic Bilbao, Spain (28)
13. Ederson - Manchester City, Brazil (31)
14. Julen Agirrezabala - Athletic Bilbao, Spain (24)
15. Marc ter Stegen - Barcelona, Germany (33)
16. Keylor Navas - Newell's Old Boys, Costa Rica (38)
17. Arnau Tenas - PSG, Spain (24)
18. Alex Remiro - Real Sociedad, Spain (30)
19. Kasper Schmeichel - Celtic, Denmark (38)
20. Andriy Lunin - Real Madrid, Ukraine (26)

21. Kjell Scherpen - Brighton, Netherlands (25)
22. Dominik Kotarski - FC Copenhagen, Croatia (25)
23. Kevin Trapp - Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany (34)
24. Matvey Safonov - PSG, Russia (26)
25. Jordan Pickford - Everton, England (31)
26. Mike Maignan - AC Milan, France (30)
27. Edouard Mendy - Al-Ahli, Senegal (33)
28. Wojciech Szczesny - Barcelona, Poland (35)
29. Giorgi Mamardashvili - Liverpool, Georgia (24)
30. Yann Sommer - Inter Milan, Switzerland (36)

31. Fernando Muslera - Estudiantes, Uruguay (39)
32. Robert Sanchez - Chelsea, Spain (27)
33. Bernd Leno - Fulham, Germany (33)
34. Illan Meslier - Leeds United, France (25)
35. André Onana - Manchester United, Cameroon (29)
36. Philipp Köhn - Monaco, Switzerland (27)
37. Caoimhin Kelleher - Brentford, Ireland (26)
38. Aaron Ramsdale - Southampton, England (27)
39. Ortwin De Wolf - KV Mechelen, Belgium (29)
40. Dean Henderson - Crystal Palace, England (28)

41. Bartlomiej Dragowski - Panathinaikos, Poland (27)
42. Diego Conde - Villarreal, Spain (26)
43. Diogo Costa - Porto, Portugal (25)
44. Robin Zentner - Mainz, Germany (30)
45. Peter Gulacsi - RB Leipzig, Hungary (35)
46. Gerónimo Rulli - Marseille, Argentina (33)
47. Marwin Hitz - FC Basel, Switzerland (37)
48. Lucas Perri - Lyon, Brazil (27)
49. Paul Bernardoni - Yverdon Sport, France (28)
50. Colin Coosemans - Anderlecht, Belgium (32)

NCAA Men's Goalkeeper Rankings (Fall 2024)

Seniors

1. Nathanael Sallah (Omaha, Germany)
2. Luke Pruter (UC Irvine)
3. Trace Alphin (Wake Forest)
4. John Harms (Indiana)
5. James Lowell (Marist)
6. Khamari Hadaway (Princeton)
7. Erik Lauta (New Hampshire)
8. Carter Abbott (Fordham)
9. Djibril Doumbia (San Diego State)
10. Grant Calvert (Belmont)

11. Blake Franzen (Liberty, South Africa)
12. Enzo Carvalho (NC State)
13. Will Watson (Princeton)
14. Alex Lopez (Tulsa, Spain)
15. Oliver Townend (Colgate)
16. Tristian Himes (Coastal Carolina)
17. Eoin Gawronski (Long Island)
18. Harry Townsend (Missouri State, England)
19. Javier Ramirez (UCA, Spain)
20. Andrew Cooke (Penn State)

One to Watch: Erik Lauta. Lauta barely scraped out of college with twenty starts to his name but the senior goalkeeper has taken his opportunity and ran with it. Depsite having less than 300 minutes played going into this fall, Lauta and New Hampshire have anchored a 0.76 GAA defense, which has propelled the Wildcats into a top 50 spot in the RPI. Although a run in the NCAA tournament is out of the cards for New Hampshire, it’ll be curious to see if Lauta can continue his traction. Lauta is a little reminiscent of John McCarthy in that he will break from traditional passive “rule of thumbs” and instead trust his gut through aggression and taking forward space. With a short resume and loose play style, it’s anyone’s guess what will become of Lauta’s professional chances.

Juniors

1. Logan Erb (NC State)
2. Alec McLachlan (St. John's, England)
3. Freddie Lapworth (Bucknell, England)
4. Cabral Carter (Pittsburgh)
5. Andrew Cordes (North Carolina)
6. Zac Kelly (Michigan State)
7. Devin Armstrong (NJIT)
8. Tenzing Manske (Georgetown)
9. Joseph Andema (Clemson, Ghana)
10. KyMani Dade (Loyola Marymount)
11. Casper Mols (Kentucky, Denmark)
12. Leonard Stritter (Charlotte, Germany)
13. Eryk Dymora (Monmouth)
14. Valentin Kneis (La Salle)
15. Ciaran Dalton (Rutgers)

One to Watch: Devin Armstrong. The Wake Forest-to-NJIT pipeline has been bone dry over the last few years but Armstrong has done well to get out from under Trace Alphin’s shadow. You always have to respect someone who is willing to give up the prestige of a top school in favor of betting on themselves with a smaller stage. So after only 33 minutes with Wake Forest, Armstrong became the clear starter for New Jersey’s most technical institution and showed why he wasn’t just a perennial number two. However, if Armstrong has any professional aspirations, he’ll need to break the stigma of going to a smaller school by proving he’s still a big-time goalkeeper who can stand on his head when called upon, which he could have used more this year.

Sophomores

1. Wyatt Nelson (UCLA)
2. Nigel Van Haveren (FIU, Netherlands)
3. Aidan Crawford (Loyola-Chicago)
4. Rowan Schnebly (Stanford)
5. Jonathan Munteanu (UAB)
6. Alex Shields (UC Irvine)
7. Thomas MacAuley (George Washington, England)
8. Andrew Samuels (Princeton)
9. Viktor Sulc (Detroit, Czech Republic)
10. Dorian Drucks (Cal State Northridge, Germany)
11. Atahan Arslan (Northern Illinois, Turkey)
12. Aaron Salinas (Furman)

One to Watch: Nigel Van Haveren. The 6’6” Dutch goalkeeper is one of the few goalkeepers who make people ask “Why are you playing at this level?” Van Haveren clearly has top-end abilities but there were some clunky goals conceded against UAB and Tulsa this year, so properly evaluating his potential is difficult. The head-scratching question for Van Haveren is if he’ll be able to play at a top level consistently or if he’ll continually be a “what could have been…” story at the end of the day.

Freshmen

1. Blake Kelly (Notre Dame)
2. Marten Brink (Marquette, Germany)
3. Max Kerkvliet (Connecticut)
4. Leo Ledin (Wofford, Sweden)
5. Filip Versterre (South Carolina, Denmark)
6. Carlito Saylon (Tulsa)
7. Declan Finnegan (IUPUI)
8. Matisse Hebert (Wisconsin, Canada)
9. Jonah Mednard (Wake Forest, Haiti)
10. Alexander Yagudayev (Villanova)

One to Watch: Carlito Saylon. Let’s get it out of the way: he’s not the tallest goalkeeper. But fortunately for the SKC product, Tulsa has welcomed undersized goalkeepers if they can provide a service elsewhere on the field. Senior goalkeeper Alex Lopez has arguably the best distribution in the game for college goalkeepers, so filling his shoes will be tricky for Saylon but it’s been a good sign that Tulsa has already given the freshman goalkeeper minutes. Saylon will need to continue to develop if he doesn’t want to split time again for the next three years.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2024: Preseason
2023: Preseason and Final
2022: Preseason and Final
2021: Preseason and Final
2020: Preseason and Final
2019: Preseason and Final
2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final
2014: Preseason and Final

NCAA Men's Goalkeeper Rankings (Preseason Fall 2024)

Seniors

1. Edu Rodriguez (Rhode Island, Spain)
2. Khamari Hadaway (Princeton)
3. Will Watson (Princeton)
4. Nathanael Sallah (Omaha, Germany)
5. Luke Pruter (UC Irvine)
6. Youssou Ouendeno (Western Illinois, France)
7. Blake Franzen (Liberty, South Africa)
8. Josue Hangi (Georgia State)
9. John Harms (Indiana)
10. James Lowell (Marist)

One to Watch: Hadaway / Watson. The two Princeton keepers have split time since 2022 and this season is shaping up to be no exception. Although a number of programs on the women’s side will look to split halves, the men’s game typically goes all in on one goalkeeper or the other. On top of that, senior year can often make or break players’ professional aspirations. Although Princeton most likely won’t be vying for a national championship, keep an eye out for which goalkeeper will make their case for Princeton’s number one, as well as the pro game.

Juniors

1. Logan Erb (NC State)
2. Casper Mols (Kentucky, Denmark)
3. Alec McLachlan (St. John's, England)
4. Zac Kelly (Michigan State)
5. Andrew Cordes (North Carolina)
6. Cabral Carter (Pittsburgh)
7. Tenzing Manske (Georgetown)
8. Gavin Roberts (Lindenwood)
9. Sam Joseph (UCLA)
10. Joseph Andema (Clemson, Ghana)

One to Watch: Logan Erb. The former Houston Dynamo product leaves San Diego State for the east coast in hopes of helping turn around NC State’s middling status. For several years now, NC State has been labeled as a school not quite tapping into its full potential, often missing the postseason due to just a few results going the wrong way. Look for Erb to not only push NC State into a more serious contender in the ACC but also position himself to collect individual accolades after attaching ACC prestige to his resume.

Sophomores

1. Wyatt Nelson (UCLA)
2. Jonathan Munteanu (UAB)
3. Seth Wilson (UNC Greensboro)
4. Aidan Crawford (Loyola-Chicago)
5. Jakub Grzesiak (Oral Roberts, Poland)
6. Alex Svetanoff (Louisville)
7. Zack Andoh (California)
8. Rowan Schnebly (Stanford)
9. Chema Preciado (Gonzaga)
10. Josh Caron (High Point)

One to Watch: Seth Wilson. After a limited run at Akron, the 6’5” FC Dallas alum mirrors Erb’s move to the east coast, joining up with a big fish in a little pond: UNC Greensboro. Nevertheless, expect Wilson and Greensboro to rear their head during the postseason as they have the potential to upset a Final Four candidate in November. Wilson has several of the tools pro scouts are looking for and playing spoiler would only bolster the young goalkeeper’s reputation.

Freshmen

1. Blake Kelly (Notre Dame)
2. Kyle Jansen (Syracuse)
3. Ryan Carney (Providence)
4. Filip Versterre (South Carolina, Denmark)
5. Charlie Reed (Clemson)
6. Jayden Quemada (Oakland)
7. Laurin Mack (Maryland, Germany)
8. Nash Skoglund  (South Carolina)
9. Levi Bieber (Washington)
10. Alexander Yagudayev (Villanova)

One to Watch: Blake Kelly. Although South Carolina will occasionally brag about being the place where top goalkeepers go, Notre Dame has clearly nailed down the top prospect for the 2024 season. As to how much of a role he’ll play in 2024, it’s hard to say at this point. But the former RSL academy goalkeeper is most certainly not going to be in college long. Don’t be surprised if Kelly is in and out in quick succession.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2023: Preseason and Final
2022: Preseason and Final
2021: Preseason and Final
2020: Preseason and Final
2019: Preseason and Final
2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final
2014: Preseason and Final