In modern football, while the primary role of a ‘keeper remains to stop goals; the best goalkeepers in the world are expected to do much more. Top goalies are now required to be able to play out from the back, be comfortable on the ball, distribute possession, and equally being a “sweeper”.
Ranking the best goalkeepers in the world is subjective and can vary based on their reputation, recent performances, and individual abilities.
However, FootballOrbit presents you with the best ‘keepers in the world in 2024.
Thibaut Courtois who led the pack in the 2023 top 10 best goalkeepers list misses out this year after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August 2023, which ruled him out for the whole of the 2023/24 season.
1. Ederson (Manchester City/Brazil)
Ederson is known for his exceptional distribution and ability to initiate attacks from the back. He has played a crucial role in Manchester City’s “tiki-taka” possession-based style of play under Pep Guardiola.
The Brazilian was very integral as City won an historic treble last season. They secured their 6th Premier League title in the last 10 years, a 7th FA Cup success, and topped it with UEFA Champions League glory.
Ederson’s most important contribution came in the Champions League final, as he made several jaw-dropping saves in the last minutes of the game.
Furthermore, he kept 11 clean sheets in the league, and in the process became the 17th goalkeeper to record 100 EPL clean sheets.
His heroics saw him win FIFA’s Best Goalkeeper of the Year award for 2023.
This season, Ederson has already helped Man City win the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
2. Alisson Becker (Liverpool/Brazil)
Alisson Becker is not just one of the top goalkeepers in the world, but one of the best of his generation.
He is known for his composure, distribution, good reflexes, excellent shot-stopping abilities, as well as the capacity to produce spectacular and instinctive reaction saves.
Since joining Liverpool, he has played a key role as the Merseysiders re-established themselves among the best soccer clubs on the planet.
In 2019, he was named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper and won the Yashin Trophy. He has also twice been selected in the FIFA FIFPRO Men’s World 11.
Moreover, Alisson reached 100 clean sheets for Liverpool in May 2023.
3. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/Slovenia)
Known for his exceptional shot-stopping ability and consistency, Jan Oblak has been a standout performer for Atletico Madrid in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.
Fast, reliable and extremely good in aerial battles, he is among the very best in the game.
He has won the La Liga Zamora Trophy (awarded to the goalkeepers with the fewest goals conceded in a season) a record-equaling 5 times.
Additionally, the 31-year-old has kept over 200 clean sheets for Atletico Madrid across all competitions since joining the club.
4. Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona/Germany)
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen is renowned for his reflexes, agility, and ability to play as a sweeper-keeper.
Named among Barcelona’s captains after Gerard Pique’s retirement in 2022, he helped Barca to the La Liga title last season — his 5th league crown.
The German won his first Zamora Trophy after conceding just 18 goals in 38 appearances.
In addition, his 26 clean sheets equalled Paco Liaño’s La Liga record set in the 1993/94 season.
Earlier this season, a back injury sidelined him for 3 months. Before the injury, Ter Stegen had made 17 appearances for Barca, conceded 15 goals and kept 8 clean sheets.
He has now returned back to the starting line-up after regaining fitness.
5. Emiliano Martinez (Ason Villa/Argentina)
With regular playing time hard to come by at Arsenal, Emiliano Martinez left the Gunners to join Aston Villa and subsequently established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
He had an incredible outing last season as he helped Argentina win the FIFA World Cup and Aston Villa to qualify for the Europa Conference League.
For his achievements, he was named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2022 and won the Yashin Trophy at Ballon d’Or 2023.
6. Mike Maignan (AC Milan/France)
In 2021, the departure of Gianluigi Donnarumma left AC Milan needing another world class goalie, Mike Maignan was signed from Lille and instantly helped them win the Serie A in his first season.
Since then, the Frenchman has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself amongst the best goalkeeper in the world.
Incredibly, in December 2023, Maignan provided an assist in a 3-1 win against Frosinone to become the only goalkeeper in Europe’s top 5 leagues to record an assist in each of the last 3 seasons!!!
Considering how frequently Milan’s defenders have been injured this season, Maignan’s performances deserve more praises.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Gianluigi Donnarumma helped Italy win Euro 2020 and was named as the Best Player of the Tournament. In 2021, he won the Yashin Trophy, awarded to the best performing goalkeeper of the year.
That same summer, he moved to PSG on a controversial free transfer, but initially found it very difficult to dislodge Keylor Navas as the team’s Number 1.
Donnaruma persisted and eventually became the first choice ‘keeper, regularly putting in brilliant displays.
Still just 24, he already has vast experience as he had made his professional debut since he was 16.
Despite his tall and imposing stature, Donnarumma possesses good reactions, incredible shot-stopping ability, speed when rushing off his line to face opponents in one on one situations, and is especially great at saving penalties.
8. Yann Sommer (Inter Milan/Switzerland)
Inter Milan sold Andre Onana to Manchester United last summer after receiving an irresistible offer. They were then faced with the problem of finding someone equally competent to fill his big gloves…
…….enter Yann Sommer!
Sommer has proven to be a bargain buy after his €6.75 million transfer from Bayern Munich. He has become crucial as Inter lead the race for the Serie A title.
The Swiss became the first goalkeeper in Serie A history to keep at least 10 clean sheets in his first 15 matches in the three points per win era (since 1994/95).
So far, he has 15 clean sheets in 24 league games.
Sommer started his career with Basel in 2003, and won 4 league titles and the Swiss Cup with the club, keeping 65 clean sheets in 170 appearances — before joining Borussia Monchengladbach 2014.
He spent nine years with Gladbach and established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga — consistently ranking among the top five for most saves.
Bayern Munich signed him as a short-term replacement in January 2023 to replace the injured Manuel Neuer.
His performances convinced Inter to turn to him as Onana’s replacement, and he currently has 20 clean sheets in 31 games across all competitions.
Furthermore, Yann Sommer represented Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.
9. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
With over 400 clean sheets kept for both club and country, Manuel Neuer is one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
The German missed most of last season after breaking his leg during a ski trip. He has made a comeback in 2023/24, managing 8 clean sheets in 19 matches so far.
10. Diogo Costa (Porto/Portugal)
Diogo Costa is more of a future top goalie as he is only 24 years old.
With his reputation growing bigger in world football due to his great performances between the sticks, top clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal are keeping tabs on him.
However, signing him won’t come cheap as Porto value him around €75m.
Diogo Costa is a typical modern day ball-playing sweeper-keeper. He is not only very good with his feet, but also with his hands — he kept 30 clean sheets in 41 matches last season, conceding 20 just goals!
11. Lukas Hradecky (Bayer Leverkusen/Finland)
In the ongoing 2023/24 season, Lukas Hradecky has helped Bayer Leverkusen make a flying start and on course to win the Bundesliga for the first time ever.
Leverkusen are currently unbeaten, with a streak of 22 league games without losses.
Hradecky has recorded 10 clean sheets in the process, placing himself among the top 11 best goalkeepers in the world in 2024.
In a 2-0 away win against Darmstadt in February 2024, the Finnish goalkeeper kept his 80th clean sheet in 280 Bundesliga matches in his career — which is the most of any foreign-born goalkeepers in the league’s entire history.
