NCAA Preseason Goalkeeper Rankings - Men's 2019

Seniors

1. Jacob Harris (Colgate) - 22
2. Jimmy Slayton (Hartford) - 21
3. Parker Siegfried (Ohio State) - 22
4. Drake Callender (California) - 21
5. Andreu Cases Mundet (Wake Forest, Spain) - 22
6. Sawyer Gaffney (Davidson) - 22
7. Anthony Mwembia (Bowling Green, France) - 23
8. Wallis Lapsley (UC Davis) - 22
9. Robbie McKelvey (Duquesne) - 22
10. Carlos Caro (Howard) - 21

Make or break: Parker Siegfried. Siegfried holds a homegrown option with Columbus but similar to Luis Barazza last year, if he plays well enough he may have more suitors by the time the draft rolls around. The Crew doesn’t have a USL affiliate as of 2019 so roster spots aren’t easy to come by, although that could theoretically change for 2020. Siegfried has shown flashes of professional-level talent but the Buckeyes are coming off a 1-15-2 season last year. Realistically Siegfried needs a loud senior year to see an MLS contract in front of him come January to overcome his short stature, the Crew’s crowded goalkeeping core, and a dreadful finish in 2018.

Juniors

1. Ben Hale (Furman) - 21
2. Chase Vosvick (Loyola Maryland) - 21
3. Colin Shutler (Virginia) - 20
4. Will Pulisic (Duke) - 21
5. Noah Lawrence (Cincinnati) - 20
6. Enrique Facusse (Kentucky, Honduras) - 20
7. Jake Gelnovatch (Louisville) - 22
8. Andrew Pannenberg (Wake Forest) - 20
9. Noah Heim (SIUE) - 21
10. Leon Krapf (NC State, Germany) - 21

Make or break: Will Pulisic. The highly touted goalkeeper, who was once training Dortmund, has yet to move past the third round in the NCAA tournament, being upset as a sixth seed both years. Pulisic has some name recognition going in his favor but being sub-six feet tall and lack of postseason success are going to be hard for scouts to overlook. If Pulisic showcases another postseason run with mixed reviews, there’s a good chance he is tagged with being a “good, but not great” goalkeeper. However if Pulisic and Duke put the pieces together and display why they’re a school that should be feared, Pulisic may not need to stay around for his senior year.

Sophomores

1. Justin Garces (UCLA) - 18
2. Andrew Thomas (Stanford) - 20
3. Alec Smir (North Carolina) - 20
4. Giannis Nikopolidis (Georgetown, Greece) - 18
5. George Tasouris (Grand Canyon, Cyprus) - 23
6. George Marks (Clemson) - 19
7. Daniel Husa (Gardner-Webb, Norway) - 21
8. Alex Budnik (Dartmouth) - 19
9. Sam Ilin (Marist) - 19
10. Sean Murry (Monmouth) - 20

Make or break: Justin Garces. Heading into the fall this time last year, Garces was one of, if not the number one prospect within the USMNT goalkeeping pool. A middling fall and a quiet six months later, Garces has some competition for the number one spot just within his. Andrew Thomas was called into a U23 camp over the summer and both George Marks (Clemson) and Alec Smir (UNC) are set to take over programs with more than its fair share of top goalkeepers in its history. Garces needs a confident fall to springboard into an even more convincing spring and summer run, otherwise he’ll go down as a once-promising young athlete who struggled to put the pieces in order.

Freshmen

1. Patrick Schulte (Saint Louis) - 18
2. Collin Travasos (California) - 18
3. Mario Perez (Purdue Fort Wayne) - 18
4. Tomas Romero (Georgetown, El Salvador) - 18
5. Kris Shakes (Penn State) - 18
6. Marcus Peterkin (Connecticut) - 18
7. Nate Holladay (UNC Asheville) - 18
8. Duncan Wegner (Hofstra) - 18
9. Michael Collodi (Columbia) - 18
10. Rhone Ellis (NC State) - 18

Make or break: Patrick Schulte. Schulte broke onto the scene with his US Open Cup heroics this summer, clawing out three penalty saves to push St. Louis FC into the third round. (Watch the highlights and penalty saves here.) Last year we saw Matt Freese leave Harvard after only his sophomore season and 14 collegiate starts to sign with the Philadelphia Union, where he already has 6 starts in MLS action. While Schulte may not have the opportunity to leave after his freshman fall, professional teams are looking younger and younger to establish their goalkeeping cores. If Schulte can prove he’s on a professional track, don’t be surprised if the US Open Cup hero gets an early start on his legacy as an MLS goalkeeper, if not something abroad.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final
2014: Final

cover photo from Colgate athletics

NCAA Preseason Goalkeeper Rankings - Women's 2019

Seniors

1. Mandy McGlynn (Virginia Tech) - 20
2. Ella Dederick (Washington State) - 23
3. Mikayla Krzeczowski (South Carolina) - 21
4. Jalen Tompkins (Colorado) - 22
5. Rylee Foster (West Virginia, Canada) - 20
6. Jaelyn Cunningham (Illinois) - 21
7. Emily Plotz (Stetson) - 21
8. Teagan Micah (UCLA, Australia) - 21
9. Heather Martin (Texas State) - 21
10. Amanda Fitzgerald (Fairleigh Dickinson) - 21

Make or beak: Mikayla Krzeczowski. It’s the classic question of “Can the undersized goalkeeper cover the whole goal?” The 5’6” senior was named first-team All-SEC last year but will likely need a repeat showing to convince NWSL teams she’s worth bringing in next spring. Krzeczowski is quick and is surprisingly explosive, although handling has been an issue as LSU fans might remember. If Krzeczowski comes in with strong hands, shows she can cover everything under the crossbar, and gets a little help from her teammates to make a deep run, Krzeczowski could hear her name called in January. Anything else, and she may be outside looking in this time next year.

Juniors

1. Emily Alvarado (TCU, Mexico) - 21
2. Sydney Schneider (UNC Wilmington, Jamaica) - 19
3. Kaylie Collins (USC) - 21
4. Hillary Beall (Michigan) - 20
5. Lysianne Proulx (Syracuse, Canada) - 20
6. Brooke Heinsohn (Duke) - 21
7. Laurel Ivory (Virginia) - 19
8. Nadine Maher (Southeastern Louisiana, Ireland) - 21
9. Emma Roccaforte (McNeese State) - 20
10. Katelyn McEachern (Youngstown State) - 21

Make or beak: Hillary Beall. Going into her junior year, Beall still only has 17 matches to her name as 2018 was derailed with a leg injury. Beall spent this summer with the UWS’s LA Galaxy Orange County and while the added playing time and training will surely boost her confidence heading into the fall, her main litmus test will be found in quick decision making. The 5’11” goalkeeper has no problem laying out for a full stretch, but angle play and 1v1s aren’t her strong suit. Coming off a championship run with the LA Galaxy Orange County in the UWS summer league, Beall isn’t a stranger to winning, but prepping herself for the 2021 NWSL draft is her latest challenge.

Sophomores

1. Hensley Hancuff (Villanova) - 18
2. Lauren Brzykcy (UCLA) - 19
3. Courtney O'Malley (UNC Asheville) - 19
4. Claudia Dickey (North Carolina) - 19
5. Mackenzie Wood (Northwestern) - 19
6. Lydia Kessel (Vermont) - 19
7. Brooke Bollinger (Florida State) - 19
8. Meagan McClelland (Rutgers) - 18
9. Madison Clem (Michigan State) - 20
10. Olivia Sekany (California) - 20

Make or beak: Olivia Sekany. While Brooke Bollinger might have a little bit of work to fend off redshirt senior Caroline Jeffers, Cal has their hands full with their goalkeeping situation. Rising sophomores Olivia Sekany and Amanda Zodikoff split time last year and US U17 goalkeeper Angelina Anderson joins them this fall. The U17 World Cup veteran arrives at Berkeley with enough prestige that immediately puts pressure on Sekany. As a former U18 goalkeeper, Sekany needs to show that last year’s 58% save percentage was an anomaly or else she may be playing second fiddle to a freshman goalkeeper.

Freshmen

1. Jenny Wahlen (Portland, Sweden) - 20
2. Angelina Anderson (California) - 18
3. Anna Leat (Georgetown, New Zealand) - 18
4. Emma Boutorwick (Toledo) - 18
5. Maggie Van Thullenar (Auburn) - 18
6. Kayza Massey (West Virginia, Canada) - 18
7. Heather Hinz (South Carolina) - 18
8. Maya Bellomo (Baylor) - 18
9. Katie Meyer (Stanford) - 19
10. Alisa Crooks (Alabama) - 18

Make or beak: Anna Leat. Freshmen have the luxury of time so Leat isn’t necessarily in a massive crunch. However, the New Zealander started in the U17 World Cup and needs to show Georgetown she’s worth the investment. Georgetown heavily relied on graduated senior Arielle Schechtman last season but enter this fall with an open net. If Leat can’t nail down the starting spot sooner than later, the Hoyas may start looking elsewhere with the future of the net.

Past Collegiate Goalkeeper Rankings

2018: Preseason and Final
2017: Preseason and Final
2016: Preseason and Final
2015: Preseason and Final

Cover photo from Hokiesports.com

Top Goalkeepers in Women's Soccer (2019)

The Women’s World Cup has finally come to a close but for those clamoring for more, the Olympic tournament is right around the corner. Until then most of the top goalkeepers will return to their clubs in England, France, Germany, and the US. This year’s list expands to include the top 60 in the world, as well as another 30 up-and-coming goalkeepers. Special thanks to Mouhamad Rachini for assisting with the rankings. Cover photo from FIFA.

1. Almuth Schult, GER (Wolfsburg) - 28
2. Tinja-Riikka Korpela, FIN (Valerenga, Norway) - 33
3. Sari van Veenendaal, NET (Arsenal, England) - 29
4. Alyssa Naeher, USA (Chicago Red Stars) - 31
5. Karen Bardsley, ENG (Manchester City) - 34
6. Stephanie Ohrstrom, SWE (Fiorentina, Italy) - 32
7. Lisa Schmitz, GER (Turbine Potsdam) - 27
8. Christiane Endler, CHI (PSG, France) - 27
9. Carly Telford, ENG (Chelsea) - 31
10. Katarzyna Kiedrzynek, POL (PSG, France) - 28

One to watch: PSG’s goalkeeper situation. Despite Endler’s World Cup heroics, it was Kiedrzynek who started 15 of 22 matches for PSG last season. It makes sense to see one of the goalkeepers slide to another club where they’ll be the proper starter but it’s tough to say which one. Kiedrzynek has the seniority but Endler’s stock has taken a massive bump in the last month. Kiedrzynek enters her seventh season with PSG, but it feels like a coin flip as to who will receive the majority of playing time. (For more on Endler’s background and recent surge, head over to Between the Sticks’ cover story on the Chilean goalkeeper.)

11. Aubrey Bledsoe, USA (Washington Spirit, USA) - 27
12. Lisa Weiss, GER (Lyon, France) - 31
13. Ashlyn Harris, USA (Orlando Pride, USA) - 33
14. Erin McLeod, CAN (Vaxjo, Sweden) - 36
15. Sandra Paños, SPA (Barcelona, Spain) - 26
16. Stephanie Labbé, CAN (North Carolina Courage, USA) - 32
17. Lydia Williams, AUS (Seattle Reign, USA) - 31
18. Adrianna Franch, USA (Portland Thorns) - 28
19. Laura O'Sullivan, WAL (Cardiff City, England) - 27
20. Mary Earps, ENG (Wolfsburg, Germany) - 26

One to watch: Aubrey Bledsoe. Heading into the World Cup, there were many questioning Alyssa Naeher’s ability in goal for the US. Now after Naeher’s outstanding semifinal performance against Spain, Bledsoe’s job of unseating the incumbent became even more difficult. Bledsoe has been working overtime the last two years, earning 61 starts between the NWSL and Australia’s W-League in the last 24 months. Bledsoe surely knows what’s within reach, but her toughest task of becoming the number one for the US is just beginning.

21. Sarah Bouhaddi, FRA (Lyon) - 32
22. Britt Eckerstrom, USA (Portland Thorns) - 26
23. Katie Fraine, USA (Vaxjo, Sweden) - 31
24. Michelle Betos, USA (Seattle Reign) - 31
25. Kateryna Samson, UKR (Ryazan, Russia) - 30
26. Gaelle Thalmann, SWI (Reggiana, Italy) - 33
27. Sabrina D'Angelo, CAN (Vittsjo, Sweden) - 26
28. Lee Alexander, SCO (Glasgow City) - 27
29. Laura Giuliani, ITA (Juventus) - 26
30. Oxana Zheleznyak, KAZ (BIIK Kazygurt) - 32

One to watch: Sabrina D'Angelo. After running into a crowded goalkeeping situation with the North Carolina Courage, D’Angelo moved east to Sweden’s Vittsjö. While the club is struggling to stay out of the relegation zone (currently sitting just one point above the line), D’Angelo is getting the playing time she was looking for. Canada’s goalkeeping position will soon start the process of passing the torch to the new guard, but D'Angelo’s resume might need to bolster up a bit before fans feel comfortable with her in net.

31. Erin Nayler, NZ (Bordeaux, France) - 27
32. Haley Kopmeyer, USA (Orlando Pride) - 29
33. Laetitia Philippe, FRA (Rodez) - 28
34. Didi Haracic, BOS (Washington Spirit, USA) - 27
35. Meline Gerard, FRA (Free Agent) - 29
36. Karima Benameur, FRA (Paris FC) - 30
37. Katrine Abel, DEN (Brondby) - 29
38. Erina Yamane, JPN (Real Betis, Spain) - 28
39. Pauline Magnin, FRA (Arsenal, England) - 27
40. Anke Preuss, GER (Liverpool, England) - 26

One to watch: Meline Gerard. After being named a backup to American goalkeeper Casey Murphy, the longtime French national team back up walked away from Montpellier. An injury in the fall gave her another hurdle to returning the field, putting the once-promising goalkeeper a full fourteen months from her last professional match. Gerard announced in May she was working on receiving a coaching license but a Facebook post last month seems to imply she still has something left to prove on the field. Gerard might or might not have gas left in the tank, but the answer will surely come sooner than later.

41. Laura Benkarth, GER (Bayern Munich) - 26
42. Romane Munich, FRA (Soyaux) - 24
43. Patricia Morais, POR (Sporting CP) - 27
44. Barbara Lorsheijd, NET (ADO Den Haag) - 28
45. Nora Gjøen, NOR (Sandviken) - 27
46. Bryane Heaberlin, USA (Frankfurt, Germany) - 25
47. Jennifer Falk, SWE (Goteborg) - 26
48. Rute Costa, POR (Braga) - 25
49. Loes Geurts, NET (Goteborg, Sweden) - 33
50. Hedvig Lindahl, SWE (Chelsea, England) - 36

One to watch: Laura Benkarth. An ACL/MCL tear cut most of 2018 short for Benkarth but the recovery went so well she worked herself in a World Cup roster spot. Bayern Munich has a slew of strong, young goalkeepers going into next season with Austrian international Manuela Zinsberger (23), former Dutch U20 starter Jacintha Weimar (21), and Finnish U20 starter Katriina Talaslahti (18). It’s a hand-picked goalkeeping core that will be tough for Benkarth to emerge from. If she can nail down the starting spot for Bayern Munich, expect to see more from Benkarth on even bigger stages.

51. Emily Dolan, USA (Real Betis, Spain) - 24
52. Bárbara, BRA (Kindermann) - 30
53. Mackenzie Arnold, AUS (Brisbane Roar) - 25
54. Meike Kamper, GER (Duisburg) - 25
55. Nicole Barnhart, USA (Utah Royals) - 37
56. Lindsey Harris, USA (Klepp, Norway) - 25
57. Jane Campbell, USA (Houston Dash) - 24
58. Deborah Garcia, FRA (Rodez) - 24
59. Vanina Correa, ARG (Rosario Central) - 30
60. Emily Armstrong, USA (Sundsvall, Sweden) - 25

One to watch: Mackenzie Arnold. After a lackluster World Cup performance from Australian starter Lydia Williams, Arnold could theoretically work her way into the starting spot for the Olympic tournament in 12 months. Arnold hasn’t been playing regularly since February, at the conclusion of the W-League, and will probably need some more game time under her belt to truly make a push for Australia’s number one spot. But she’s certainly in a position to impress the higher-ups if the next year goes well for her.

Top 30 Under 24

1. Ellie Roebuck, ENG (Manchester City) - 19
2. Carina Schluter, GER (SC Sand) - 22
3. Elena, SPA (Fundacion Albacete) - 22
4. Elisa Launay, FRA (Lille) - 23
5. Anneke Borbe, GER (Werder Bremen) - 18
6. Zecira Musovic, SWE (Rosengard) - 23
7. Peng Shimeng, CHI (Jiangsu Suning) - 21
8. Stephanie Bukovec, CRO (ZNK Split) - 23
9. Cindy Perrault, FRA (Grenoble Foot) - 23
10. Sara Serrat, SPA (Huelva) - 23

One to watch: Ellie Roebuck. Second place WSL finisher Manchester City relied heavily on the teenage goalkeeper. Roebuck, who started 15 of the club’s 20 matches, has earned two caps with the English national team over the last year. Roebuck is so highly regarded that she not only signed a two-year extension with Manchester City but served as a surplus traveling member for England’s World Cup team this summer. When compared to her peers, Roebuck is in a league of her own.

11. Ayaka Yamashita, JPN (Nippon TV Beleza) - 23
12. Romane Bruneau, FRA (Girondins de Bordeaux) - 22
13. Cecilie Fiskerstrand, NOR (Lillestrom) - 23
14. Maria Quinones, SPA (Real Sociedad) - 22
15. Kailen Sheridan, CAN (Sky Blue FC, USA) - 23
16. Aurora Mikalsen, NOR (Kolbotn) - 23
17. Lena Pauels, GER (Werder Bremen) - 21
18. Casey Murphy, USA (Seattle Reign) - 23
19. Manuela Zinsberger, AUS (Bayern Munich, Germany) - 23
20. Sophie Baggaley, ENG (Bristol City) - 22

One to watch: Casey Murphy. Murphy is the next logical choice in the post-Alyssa Naeher era for many US fans. At 23, she’s certainly accomplished more than her American counterparts, leaving college early to play in France for two years with Montpellier. She’s recently returned stateside, filling in for Lydia Williams’ absence with the World Cup team. Murphy will likely be fast-tracked going forward by some NWSL side, whether it is Seattle or not, but the competition for a starting spot in the NWSL is unlike any other position in the league.

21. Chika Hirao, JPN (Albirex Niigata) - 22
22. Emily Boyd, USA (Chicago Red Stars) - 22
23. Lisa Klostermann, GER (SGS Essen) - 20
24. Jalen Tompkins, USA (University of Colorado) - 22
25. Ana, SPA (Rayo Vallecano) - 21
26. Mikayla Krzeczowski, USA (University of South Carolina) - 21
27. Matilda Haglund, SWE (Linkoping) - 22
28. Ella Dederick, USA (Washington State University) - 22
29. Alessia Piazza, ITA (Tavagnacco) - 21
30. Lize Kop, NET (Ajax) - 21

One to watch: Ella Dederick. Back in February, Washington State was happy to announce that Dederick was granted an additional year of eligibility after a knee injury cut last fall short. Dederick was on pace to be a top goalkeeper in the 2019 NWSL draft before the unfortunate setback. Now with a new lease on her playing career, Dederick will be a top draft pick for 2020 if everything goes as planned. Dederick’s fitness and playing level will be unveiled in August and if she can stay healthy through the grueling fall, look to see her name on everyone’s draft board in January.

Past Rankings:
2018
2017
2016

The World's Top Goalkeepers (2019)

Everybody Soccer returns with the annual list of top goalkeepers in the world. This year features 50 of the current top goalkeepers as well as another 50 goalkeepers under the age of 24. While some goalkeepers are likely to be sent out on loan (Sergio Rico and Kevin Trapp for example), the parent club has been listed unless an official deal has been made. Check back next month for a similar list for the women’s game. Cover photo from DW.com.

:::::: Updated Rankings ::::::

- Men’s Top 50 (2020)
- Women’s Top 15 (2020)
- Men’s Top 24 Under 24 (2020)

:::::: Updated Rankings ::::::

1. Marc ter Stegen, Germany (Barcelona, SPA) - 27
2. Jan Oblak, Slovenia (Atlético Madrid, SPA) - 26
3. Keylor Navas, Costa Rica (Real Madrid, SPA) - 32
4. David de Gea, Spain (Manchester United, ENG) - 28
5. Ederson, Brazil (Manchester City, ENG) - 25
6. Alisson, Brazil (Liverpool, ENG) - 26
7. Yann Sommer, Switzerland (Mönchengladbach, GER) - 30
8. Rui Patrício, Portugal (Wolverhampton, ENG) - 31
9. Thibaut Courtois, Belgium (Real Madrid, SPA) - 27
10. Lukas Hradecky, Finland (Bayer Leverkusen, GER) - 29

One to Watch: Thibaut Courtois. Courtois’ vast, negative reception after receiving the 2018 World Cup Golden Glove has been strange, to say the least. Courtois is far from one of football’s villains, although he can be quite the prick at times, but there seem to be more rooting for him to fail than succeed at Real Madrid. Often described as one of the worst best goalkeepers in the world, Courtois should finally have Real Madrid to himself with the pending exit of Keylor Navas. Real Madrid isn’t known as a club with patience and if Courtois can’t prove to his critics he’s worthy of the starting spot, don’t expect him to stick around too long.

11. Bernd Leno, Germany (Arsenal, ENG) - 27
12. Hugo Lloris, France (Tottenham Hotspur, ENG) - 32
13. Jasper Cillessen, Netherlands (Barcelona, SPA) - 30
14. Salvatore Sirigu, Italy (Torino) - 32
15. Manuel Neuer, Germany (Bayern Munich) - 33
16. Lukasz Fabianski, Poland (West Ham United, ENG) - 34
17. Anthony Lopes, Portugal (Lyon, FRA) - 28
18. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Spain (Chelsea, ENG) - 24
19. Sven Ulreich, Germany (Bayern Munich) - 29
20. Roman Bürki, Switzerland (Dortmund, GER) - 28

One to Watch: Jasper Cillessen. The longtime backup for Barcelona is finally getting a fresh start and hopefully his own net. After being linked with a number of Premier League clubs, it seems Valencia will be the new home for the Dutch goalkeeper. Cillessen may be looking at less hardware with Valencia when compared to Barcelona, but he’ll still be seeing Champions League matches and be in the middle of a tightly contested La Liga table to return to the prestigious tournament next year. Cillessen has long awaited his breakout chance but now it’s up to him to prove he’s more than a great backup.

21. Alphonse Areola, France (PSG) - 26
22. Jordan Pickford, England (Everton) - 25
23. Kasper Schmeichel, Denmark (Leicester City, ENG) - 32
24. Martin Dubravka, Slovakia (Newcastle United, ENG) - 30
25. Etrit Berisha, Albania (Atalanta, Italy) - 30
26. Bono, Morocco (Girona, Spain) - 28
27. Pau López, Spain (Betis, Roma) - 24
28. Samir Handanovic, Slovenia (Inter, ITA) - 34
29. Adrián, Spain (Free Agent) - 32
30. Ralf Fährmann, Germany (FC Schalke 04) - 29

One to Watch: Alphonse Areola. Despite PSG bringing in Italian legend Gianluigi Buffon last year, Areola still started 21 of 38 matches and is set to take on an even larger role at the club. With Ligue 1 continually playing little brother to the top four leagues, Areola has the chance to showcase his talents in a way that could put him on a bigger stage and give PSG a nice reward on the way out. Areola’s ceiling is still up to much debate. He could be one of the best goalkeepers in Ligue 1 history or he might be contending for something more if 2019-20 falls in line.

31. Wojciech Szczesny, Poland (Juventus, ITA) - 29
32. Kevin Trapp, Germany (PSG, FRA) - 27
33. Fernando Muslera, Uruguay (Galatasaray, TUR) - 33
34. Asmir Begovic, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bournemouth, ENG) - 32
35. Igor Akinfeev, Russia (CSKA Moscow, RUS) - 33
36. Fernando Pacheco, Spain (Alavés) - 27
37. Gianluigi Buffon, Italy (PSG, FRA) - 41
38. David Ospina, Colombia (Napoli, ITA) - 30
39. Alexander Schwolow, Germany (Freiburg) - 27
40. Mattia Perin, Italy (Juventus) - 26

One to Watch: Mattia Perin. Things are far from settled but Perin seems more out than in at Juventus. Perin unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone Wojciech Szczesny, only starting nine league matches before needing surgery for a dislocated shoulder. Roma and Perin have been tied but the once future successor at Juventus is now scrambling to find a club that would invest in him between the posts.

41. Aitor Fernandez, Spain (Levante) - 28
42. Matheus, Brazil (SC Braga, POR) - 26
43. Mathew Ryan, Australia (Brighton, ENG) - 27
44. Jiri Pavlenka, Czech Republic (Werder Bremen, GER) - 27
45. Timo Horn, Germany (1. FC Köln) - 26
46. Sergio Rico, Spain (Sevilla) - 25
47. Jordi Masip, Spain (Real Valladolid) - 30
48. Iago Herrerín, Spain (Athletic Bilbao) - 31
49. Simon Sluga, Croatia (Rijeka) - 26
50. Alex McCarthy, England (Southampton) - 29

One to Watch: Sergio Rico. Sevilla is passing on Sergio Rico for Czech veteran Tomas Vaclik so Rico’s return back to Fulham, where he started the final 29 matches of the season, seems more than plausible. There weren’t too many 25-year-olds starting in the EPL last year and Fulham showed some true loyalty in Rico by sticking with him even in the midst of a 12 points over 18 match run to finish in the relegation zone. England’s second division is no cakewalk so if Rico does return, it may be an even tougher test than the Premier League.

Top 50 Goalkeepers Under 24

1. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy (AC Milan) - 20
2. Ionut Radu, Romania (Inter, ITA) - 22
3. Okan Kocuk, Turkey (Bursaspor) - 23
4. Michael Verrips, Netherlands (KV Mechelen, BEL) - 22
5. Felipe Lopez, Mexico (Leones Negros) - 23
6. Alex Meret, Italy (Napoli) - 22
7. Rubén Blanco, Spain (Celta de Vigo) - 23
8. Roberto Ramirez, Argentina (Godoy Cruz) - 22
9. Simone Scuffet, Italy (Udinese Calcio) - 23
10. Daniel Mesenhöler, Germany (MSV Duisburg) - 23

One to Watch: Ionut Radu. Italy has a pair of young, exciting goalkeepers at two of its more prominent clubs. Radu, who recently sent shockwaves throughout the soccer community for his heartfelt tribute to his sister, is in contention to put Romania into the 2020 Olympics with the U23 side. Arsenal reportedly has interest in the young goalkeeper but he’s also been public about returning to Genoa as a positive situation. If it’s not Arsenal, Radu will have his pick of the lot sooner than later.

11. Toma Niga, Romania (FCSB) - 21
12. André Onana, Cameroon (Ajax, NET) - 23
13. Adrian Semper, Croatia (Dinamo Zagreb) - 21
14. Luca Zidane, France (Real Madrid, SPA) - 21
15. Tiepo, Brazil (Chapecoense) - 21
16. Denis Scherbitski, Belarus (BATE Borisov) - 23
17. Dragan Rosic, Serbia (Mladost) - 22
18. Arijanet Muric, Kosovo (Manchester City, ENG) - 20
19. Boris Radunović, Serbia (Atalanta, ITA) - 23
20. Emil Audero, Italy (Sampdoria) - 22

One to Watch: Arijanet Muric. American fans might be familiar with Zack Steffen’s move to Manchester City but it’s Muric’s rise to power that viewers should watch closely. At 20 years young, Muric has already been capped five times by Kosovo, proving how goalkeepers can come from even the 121st ranked nations. A shocking 4-0-2 run by Kosovo, paired with a +29 jump in Elo rankings, promoted them to League C in the UEFA Nations League and could be a sign of more things to come.

21. Alexander Nübel, Germany (FC Schalke 04) - 22
22. Ugurcan Caki, Turkey (Trabzonspor) - 23
23. Joe Wildsmith, England (Sheffield Wednesday) - 23
24. Mike Maignan, France (Lille) - 23
25. Angus Gunn, England (Southampton) - 23
26. Andrea Zaccagno, Italy (Torino) - 22
27. Alban Lafont, France (Fiorentina, ITA) - 20
28. Álex Dos Santos, Brazil (Atlético Madrid, SPA) - 20
29. Andriy Lunin, Ukraine (Real Madrid, SPA) - 20
30. Gregor Kobel, Switzerland (Hoffenheim, GER) - 21

One to Watch: Andriy Lunin. Lunin managed to earn five starts for CD Leganés last season (where he was loaned from Real Madrid) but his biggest achievement came this summer, where he led Ukraine in goal during their championship run in the U20 World Cup. Lunin was given the Golden Glove in the U20 tournament after conceding just four goals in seven games. After originally being slated to go back out on loan to Leganés, Goal.com says Lunin is a likely candidate for the number two with Real Madrid. Fans may not get to watch much of Lunin during league play yet again but he’ll surely get his chance to prove his merit in various cup matches throughout the season.

31. Per Kristian Bratveit, Norway (Djurgarden, SWE) - 23
32. Nordin Jackers, Belgium (Genk) - 21
33. David Raya, Spain (Blackburn Rovers, ENG) - 23
34. Josip Posavec, Croatia (Hajduk Split) - 23
35. José Aurelio Suárez, Spain (Girona) - 23
36. Phillip Menzel, Germany (Wolfsburg) - 20
37. Anton Mitryushkin, Russia (Sion, SWI) - 23
38. Alexander Schlager, Austria (LASK) - 23
39. Sondre Rossbach, Norway (Odds) - 23
40. Mile Svilar, Belgium (Benfica, POR) - 19

One to Watch: Phillip Menzel. Wolfsburg’s reserve team just missed promotion with a tightly contested battle with Bayern Munich’s second team. Menzel’s tenure in the fourth division was still largely successful, compiling a 24-4-2 record throughout the season. Wolfsburg may look to send him back with the reserve side or, as Sportbuzzer reports, a loan to a third division side could be a natural progression for the German U20 goalkeeper. For those unfamiliar with Menzel’s game, think Lukasz Fabianski. It can be a little clunky at times, but the U20 German goalkeeper has an uncanny nose for the ball and a Michael Jordan hangtime-esque extension save. While first-team chances are close to zero for the time being, it’s more of a “not if but when” situation with Menzel.

41. Altay Bayindir, Turkey (Ankaragücü) - 21
42. Sebastian Jurado, Mexico (Tiburones Rojos) - 21
43. Justin Bijlow, Netherlands (Feyenoord) - 21
44. Antonio Sivera, Spain (Alavés) - 22
45. Nils Körber, Germany (Osnabruck) - 22
46. Rok Vodisek, Slovenia (Genoa, ITA) - 20
47. Pontus Dahlberg, Sweden (Watford, ENG) - 20
48. Javier Belman, Spain (Real Madrid) - 20
49. Dominik Kotarski, Croatia (Ajax, Netherlands) - 19
50. Michele Di Gregorio, Italy (Inter) - 21

One to Watch: Pontus Dahlberg. For Watford fans, Dahlberg has been a non-factor since joining the club 18 months ago and has probably been forgotten by some of the supporters. However Dahlberg picked up his first cap with the Swedish national team in January and followed up the 1-1 tie to Estonia by just barely missing the cutoff for the European Under-21 Championship. Dahlberg, who has been sitting for some time with Watford, seems prime to be loaned out and begin being groomed for the starting position for the Hornets.