We know behind every great football team that barely concede goals lies a great goalkeeper but the the question is Who are the best goalkeepers of all time?
The goalkeeping post is surely the most underrated position on the field but we all that this one of the toughest jobs though and it requires a lot of concentration, composure and the ability to pull off saves at any given moment.
In the world of football, goalkeepers hold a special position. They are the last line of defense, the protectors of the net, and often the unsung heroes of the game. Throughout the history of football, there have been exceptional goalkeepers who have showcased incredible skill, agility, and shot-stopping abilities. In this article, we pay tribute to the top 10 best goalkeepers of all time, highlighting their remarkable careers and their impact on the sport.
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Ten Greatest Goalkeepers of All Times
Throughout the history of football, there have been exceptional goalkeepers who have showcased incredible skill, agility, and shot-stopping abilities. In this article, we pay tribute to the top 10 best goalkeepers of all time, highlighting their remarkable careers and their impact on the sport.
10. Gordon Banks
When is comes to British football, Gordon Banks is greatly known as the greatest goalkeeper in in the history of British football.
Unfortunately, the British goalkeeper died in the year 2019 at the age of 81 and will surely forever be remembered for that his save that he made against Brazil in the 1970 World Cup.
He produced a save that stopped the world for a while, Banks made an amazing save against the powerful header of the Brazilian forward Pele.
Coming to Career honors, the goalkeeper did not win much, he won English League twice and FIFA Club World Cup once.
9. Edwin Van der Sar
Edwin Van Der Sar was surely an amazing goalkeeper who ironically shone brightest during the end of his career with the Premier League club Manchester United.
The Dutch man was a great wall between the sticks for Manchester United making saves at almost every position and he helped Manchester United win 4 Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League.
The Dutchman also also played for Ajax in the 1990s before he moved on to the Italian club Juventus and later on Fulham.
Career honours
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| Eredivisie | 4* |
| Dutch League Cup | 3* |
| Dutch Super League | 3* |
| English League Cup | 2* |
| English Premier League | 4* |
| English Super Cup | 4* |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1* |
| UEFA Champions League | 1* |
| UEFA Cup | 1* |
| UEFA Super Cup | 1* |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1* |
8. Peter Smeichel
Another goalkeeper regarded as a Premier League legend alongside the previous goalkeeper on this list is Peter Smeichel.
Peter Smeichel was one of the best reflex savers that the World that the world ever had and with the Manchester United, he won 5 League titles as well as the Champions League in the year 1999.
In the history of Scandinavian football, he is features among the all time greatest footballers and was popularly known for his trademark shouts and his way of commanding and positioning his defence.
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| FA Cup | 3* |
| English Premier League | 3* |
| UEFA Champions League | 1* |
| English League Cup | 1* |
His son Kasper Smeichel decided to walk in the path of his that and is now also a great Keeper in the Premier League and has already won the FA Cup and Premier League with Leiceister.
7. Oliver Kahn
The German International goalkeeper is popularly remembered for his 14 years career at Bayern Munich with whom he won multiples of trophies including 8 Bundesliga titles and a Champions League.
At international level, the goalkeeper played for the German national team and was runner up in the 2002 world cup but he was awarded the golden ball in that world cup.
He is also one of the few goalkeepers that made it in the Ballon dor shortlisted 3 nominees as he finished 3rd in the votes in the years 2001 and 2002.
Career Honors
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| DFB-Pokal | 6* |
| Bundesliga | 8* |
| UEFA Champions League | 1* |
| UEFA Cup | 1* |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1* |
6. Petr Cech
Petr Cech is probably the greatest goalkeeper of the Premier League era winning numerous prestigious titles with Chelsea.
In the squad of Chelsea, Cech was as important at the back as John Terry in their superlative defensive record between 2004 and 2006 where they conceded just 15 and 22 goals in the Premier League.
Petr Cech also played for the Premier League club Arsenal where he spend the final 4 years of his career.
Career honours
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| European Under-21 Champion | 1* |
| English League Cup | 3* |
| Czech footballer of the year | 7* |
| FA Cup | 5* |
| English Premier League | 4* |
| English Super Cup | 6* |
| Europa Cup | 1* |
| UEFA Champions League | 1* |
5. Manuel Neuer
Another German goalkeeper on our list who is actually still on duty with the German Bundesliga club Bayern Munich where he has enjoyed a great success.
The 35 years old German goalkeeper is actually one of the greatest and also most decorated goalkeepers and German players in the World.
Manuel Neuer is one of the bravest and most confident goalkeeper on the ball we have ever known in the World of football.
Career honors
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| German Under-19 Cup | 1* |
| European Under-21 Champion | 1* |
| German footballer of the year | 2* |
| DFB-Pokal | 6* |
| Bundesliga | 9* |
| UEFA Champions League | 2* |
| German Super Cup | 5* |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2* |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1* |
4. Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff probably one of the best goalkeepers that the World have ever experienced.
The Italian stopper surely 79 years old by now, popularly played for the likes of Napoli and Juventus and he also won the World Cup with Italy in the year 1982.
Dino Zoff is the goalkeeper that boast the record of having held a clean sheet the longest amount of tim actually 1,142 minutes that was from September 1972 to June 1974.
And to crown it all, he has kept 360 clean sheets from 720 first level club games during his career.
Even though he was a great goalkeeper, he did not win that much in his career.
Career Honors
During his career in Italy, he won Coppa Italia twice, 6 Serie A titles and one UEFA Cup.
3. Gianluigi Buffon
In the year 200s, Gianluigi Buffon was the greatest goalkeeper in the World and is also seen by many to be the greatest Italian goalkeeper ever.
Even though his age of 43, he still continues to play football and is loved by most of football fans. The legendary player has played 178 times for Italy and has won the World Cup in the year 2006.
Gianluigi Buffon actually stands as the all timed most capped player for the Italy and so far in his career, he has made 350 clean sheets.
Career Honors
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| European Under-21 Champion | 1* |
| Coppa Italia | 5* |
| Serie A | 10* |
| Ligue 1 | 1* |
| Italian footballer of the year | 1* |
| Italienischer Zweitligameister | 1* |
| UEFA Cup | 1* |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1* |
| Italian Super Cup | 7* |
| French Super Cup | 1* |
2. Iker Casillas
Every prestigious trophy that you name like the Champions League, European Championship, World Cup, Iker Casillas has won it.
The number of trophies that the goalkeeper has won says a lot about his career and his performances on the pitch talks about the rest.
Iker Casillas is mostly remembered for his glorious 16 years career at Real Madrid where he played 725 times for the Spanish giant before moving to Porto in the year 2015.
Iker Casillas at a point in his career was Spain's 1st choice goalkeeper during the most glorious period of the country between the years 2008 and 2012 where the nation won 2 European Championship and the World Cup.
Career Honors
| Trophy | Number of times won |
|---|---|
| La Liga | 5* |
| Super Coppa d'Espana | 4* |
| Copa Del rey | 2* |
| UEFA Champions League | * |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2* |
| FIFA Club World Cup | 1* |
| Intercontinental Cup | 1* |
1. Lev Yashin
Lev Yashin is surely not as popular or decorated as the others on this list but without any drop of doubt, he is the greatest goalkeeper in the history of football.
Lev Yashin played all his professional career with the Russian club Dynamo Moscow but what mostly caught the World's attention was the goalkeepers performances at international level with the Soviet Union.
It is mind blowing that during the whole of the keepers career, he stopped around 150 penalty kicks which is the greatest record of all time and he also kept a total of 270 clean sheets in close to 420 games that he played.
Known as the "Black Spider," Lev Yashin revolutionized the art of goalkeeping. He played for the Soviet Union national team and Dynamo Moscow, setting new standards for goalkeeping with his acrobatic saves and exceptional reflexes. Yashin won the Ballon d'Or in 1963, the only goalkeeper ever to receive this prestigious award.
Career Honors
- Soviet Cup 3*
- Soviet Champion 5*
- European Champion 1*
- Olympic Gold Medalist
- Ballon d'or 1*
Final Thoughts on The Top 10 Best Greatest Goalkeepers of All Time
These ten goalkeepers have left an indelible mark on the history of football with their exceptional skills, unwavering determination, and remarkable achievements. They have set new standards for goalkeeping and inspired generations of aspiring goalkeepers around the world. From the acrobatics of Lev Yashin to the modern-day brilliance of Manuel Neuer, these legends will forever be remembered as the guardians of the net.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the best African player in football history?
The best African player in Football history is Samuel Eto'o but there are still several other players such as Drogba, Okocha and Roger Milla who showed great performances in their years.
Who is the first African goalkeeper to win UEFA Champions League?
The first African to win the Champions League was Bruce Grobbelaar. The Zimbabwean goalkeeper won the competition with Liverpool in May 1984 in Rome, Italy.
Who is the king of football in Africa?
George Weah stands as the only African player to have won the prestigious Ballon d'Or in 1995.