The goalkeeping position in a team is now a very important position in a team as much as any other position. This is because of the level of attention coaches give go to the department.
Goalkeeping in modern-day football is now more than just knowing how to catch the ball but also entails how to shoot and pass the ball. Terms like “ball-playing goalkeepers” are now qualities needed when clubs want to buy a goalkeeper.
They watch a keeper that can help start attacks as quickly as possible. This is why clubs break the transfer record to sign goalkeepers. This is why we will be looking into the best goalkeepers in the world for 2024.
10. Manuel Neuer
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Many might feel slightly offended that a goalkeeper like Neuer dropping down to tenth but critically looking at his performance and many others, he has been way off the mark. In his defense, the injury before the world cup played a role in all of this.
This, however, does not mean he’s not a great goalkeeper, what has just simply happened is that any other goalkeepers have stepped up.
He is still one of the best goalkeepers with the ball on his feet and also amongst the best when it comes to reflexes. Neuer has simply stayed top amongst the best goalkeepers for years and will still remain amongst the best for years to come.
9. Thibaut Courtois
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When Real Madrid signed Courtois from Chelsea, he was meant to come and become an instant hit at the club. Things have not gone as planned so far but this is partly due to the poor performance of his defenders.
A goalkeeper is as good as his defenders. His quality over time will, however, speak for him. Courtois’s commanding presence in front of the goal has been a great attribute that helped him during his time at Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.
He has grown to become Belgium number one and a goalkeeper to be trusted. With Real Madrid performance picking up and the team as a whole having a good run when it’s time to see him step up and save the team, he will definitely do in grand style.
8. Wojciech Szczesny
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While he was at Arsenal he was seen as a young goalkeeper prone to error but loan spell in Italy and finally joining Juventus has made Szczesny grow to become a top goalkeeper in world football.
Learning from the very best Gigi Buffon before becoming number one at Juve was something that shaped his career to be where he is today. There are games that Juventus has been very poor but get draws or wins simply because he kept them in the game. He has been one of Juve’s best player of the season so far.
7. Samir Handanovic
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At age 34, Samir Handanovic is still regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. This is because he has kept Inter Milan in games that the team performance was woeful and things haven’t gone as planned.
Many that followed the Serie-A will know that he is simply the best goalkeeper in Italy but many believe in popular names like Buffon because we have known them for long. It is a great thing that Handanovic is getting the praise he deserves.
6. Hugo Lloris
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If you are looking for a top-level goalkeeper that has all the qualities you need from both the old generation goalkeeper and the modern-day goalkeeper, Lloris will be the first option to pop up. However, due to his costly errors in some games, he was only able to make it to number 6 on the list. Lloris is one of the reasons Tottenham are a force in England right now.
He has been immense for them since joining from Lyon. The presence of Lloris was also a factor in Spurs challenging for the Premier League title in 2017.
Apart from the gaffe in the final of the 2018 world cup, he was a key figure in France’s success at the world cup as much as he is the team’s captain. Lloris is highly regarded amongst his pairs as he is a complete goalkeeper in all its entirety.
5. Ederson
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When Pep Guardiola decided to bring in Ederson from Benfica just a season after signing Bravo from Barcelona, it was obvious he was a goalkeeper of great quality even if he was relatively unknown then. The decision to bring him on has been reward handsomely with his performance for the Citizens. He is the typical modern goalkeeper, good with his feet. He typically starts all attacks of the City.
They recycle all the ball through him when there is difficulty breaking down the opposition with the fear that he will slot into his own net. The back to back league titles that City won have a great contribution from him especially in games that City was close to losing.
One penalty saves against Crystal Palace was immense in his first season at the club. Keeping a 17clean sheet was also another landmark for him. At 25, the only place he can go is up and to keep improving.
4. David de Gea
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Goalkeepers have a way of having one horrible mistake taint their great work for a long period of time. That is the case with David de Gea. The Manchester United number one have not just been tremendous but also been the major factor Manchester United have not gone lower than they are.
He has been their best player in the last five years. His poor form at the world cup and the start of last season was the reason his rating has dropped. He still remains among the best goalkeepers in the world.
3. Alisson Becker
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Brazil is so blessed to have two world-class goalkeepers in Allison and Ederson. Allison just spent a season at Roma before Liverpool snapped him up. This was because of his quality that led Roma to the semifinal of the Champions League in 2018. Liverpool’s decision to sign him paid off instantly as he joined the Reds.
Having kept 19 clean sheets clean sheets in his first season in England, there is no doubt he will be around for long and help Liverpool win more trophies.
His sheer ability to use both his feet and hands effectively well has made him one goalkeeper to never underestimate. If £70 million is what it takes to have a good goalkeeper, Liverpool has gotten one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
2. Marc Andre Ter Stegen
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After Lionel Messi, the next most important player in Barcelona is Ter Stegen. The German is so good that he is asking to be the number one for the German national team. Like many goalkeepers, he might have started his career on a lot of mistakes but he is right now a force in world football.
His best attributes include his reflexes, calm nature whenever the ball is at his feet and ability to coordinate the team from the back. he is now a great presence for Barcelona that he is undisputed number one.
1. Jan Oblak
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If there is an award for a football club in the world that has consistently produce top players and sell to replace it with another top player and remain competitive, Atletico Madrid win easily win it. The sale of Thibaut Courtois to Chelsea only to replace him with Oblak seem like the 8th wonder of the world.
He has become a force in Spain and has consistently made Atleti remain in the race for Laliga even when performance has started dropping. No one beats a record like 134 clean sheets in 205 games and only conceded 116 goals. It is unthinkable to achieve. Oblak comfortably seats as the king of goalkeepers and the best in the world right now.