In this article, we present to you our picks of the 10 best male goalkeepers of 2024 that shone while plying their trade in Europe.
The goalkeeper is one of the most crucial players in a football team, playing a unique and vital role in the game. A keeper is the final barrier between the opposing team and the goal. Without a skilled and top-class keeper, the defence is vulnerable to goals, even if the rest of the players defend well. A goalkeeper’s ability to make crucial saves can significantly influence the outcome of a match.
Modern goalkeepers are often involved in initiating attacks. With their strong distribution skills, they can launch quick counterattacks by accurately passing the ball to midfielders or forwards. Some goalkeepers even take on the role of a “sweeper keeper”, coming out of their box to clear balls or intercept through balls from the opposition.
European football has been blessed with world-class goalkeepers, many of whom often single-handedly save the day for their teams.
The rankings below are based on following criteria:
- Performances, potential. and consistency
- Importance and relevance to his team
- Success or trophies won
The stats mentioned have been accumulated from Transfermarkt and Fbref.
10. Lucas Chevalier | France | LOSC Lille
Lucas Chevalier has been one of the top performers for Lille in the French Ligue 1, helping them to a top-four finish in 2023/24 and get Champions League football. Chevalier has continued to impress this season too. A product of the Lille academy, the shot-stopper has been highly relied upon by Les Dogues.
In the 2023/24 season, Chevalier kept 19 clean sheets in 44 matches. This season, he has continued to impress with nine clean sheets in 27 games so far. He has a save percentage of 76.6% and a clean sheet percentage of 36.8% in the 2024/25 season.
The French goalkeeper is right-footed and possesses great reflexes. He makes brilliant diving stops and is a decent passer of the ball as well. He is most popularly known for his saves from penalties and long shots and has the ability to read and smother close shots.
Chevalier has been a commanding presence between the sticks for Lille, having established himself as a standout goalkeeper in Ligue 1. At just 23 years old, he’s a talent to keep an eye on, with immense potential for further development and improvement in the seasons to come.
9. Diogo Costa | Portugal | FC Porto
Diogo Costa had a stellar 2024 season for both Porto and the Portugal national team, even though the two teams struggled to win major trophies.
The Portuguese shot-stopper has been unbelievable at the back for both club and country. In 2023/24, he kept 17 clean sheets for Porto in 45 games and has continued to keep his club close in the title race in Primeira Liga in 2024/25 with 13 clean sheets in just 24 games. He has a save percentage of 74.6% and clean sheet percentage of 59.4% in 2024/25. He had a phenomenal Euros 2024 campaign with Portugal, keeping three clean sheets in five games and helping his side make the quarter-finals.
Costa is a typical sweeper keeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet and can execute short and long passes with accuracy. He is known for his technical skills and tactical intelligence, possessing exceptional reflexes and reaction times that enable him to execute difficult saves in one-on-one situations and close-range shots. He is good on penalties too with great composure and positioning.
Costa is still in the early stages of his career, and if he continues to deliver consistent performances for both his club and country, it’s only a matter of time before Europe’s top clubs come for him.
8. Jan Oblak | Slovenia | Club Atlético de Madrid
Jan Oblak has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for many a season now. Playing for Atlético Madrid, the Slovenia national team captain has impressed with his shot-stopping ability and calmness under pressure.
Oblak is a commanding presence at the back for Atleti and had a stellar 2024. In 2023/24, he kept 16 clean sheets in 54 games. This season too he has been in unbelievable form for Los Colcheneros, with 10 clean sheets in 24 games and keeping them in the title race in LaLiga. Oblak has had a save percentage of 74% and a fairly decent clean sheet percentage of 36.2% in 2024/25.
Oblak is a world-class goalkeeper known for his speed, agility, and shot-stopping ability. He is tall, strong, and decisive. He has incredible reflexes and a great reading of the game, and he also possesses outstanding work rate, positioning, and footwork. Additionally, he is a calm and composed goalkeeper whose leadership skills at the back have proved to be a major plus for both club and country.
Jan Oblak has been a cornerstone of Atlético Madrid’s success over the last decade, consistently proving to be one of the most important members of the squad. He has earned the trust of his manager, Diego Simeone, as the last line of the Atleti defence.
If Atleti are to mount a serious challenge for LaLiga and make a deep run in the Champions League, it is essential that their goalkeeper remains in peak form.
7. David Raya | Spain | Arsenal FC
David Raya was brought in by Mikel Arteta ahead of the 2023/24 season. Since then, the Spanish goalkeeper has proved why he was the perfect choice for the Gunners. He bagged the Premier League Golden Glove with most clean sheets and least goals conceded in the 2023/24, also keeping Arsenal in the hunt for the title till the last day of the season.
Raya kept an incredible 20 clean sheets in 41 games in the 2023/24 season and has continued his exceptional form in 2024/25, keeping 11 clean sheets in 29 games so far. He has a save percentage of 76.2% and a clean sheet percentage of 48.9% in the 2024/25 season.
Raya is a vocal goalkeeper who also plays more often as a sweeper keeper. He is comfortable with the ball at his feet, often playing from the back and enabling his team to play a high defensive line. Raya is adept at both long and short passes with excellent shot-stopping and distribution.
The Spain international has proven to be an indispensable part of Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup, delivering outstanding performances that have significantly contributed to the team’s success. His exceptional form over the past two seasons has made a substantial impact at the back. If he continues to maintain this level of consistency, Arsenal could be on the brink of securing major trophies in the near future.
6. Manuel Neuer | Germany | FC Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers and the very best of his generation. Even though he is now in the latter stages of his career, the German shot-stopper still pulls off solid performances for Bayern Munich.
Even though 2023/24 wasn’t a usual trophy-winning season for the Bavarians, Neuer kept 11 clean sheets in 33 games. So far in 2024/25 he has kept 13 clean sheets in 20 games as Bayern sit atop the German Bundesliga table once again. He has a save percentage of 65.5% and a clean sheet percentage of 33.3% in 2024/25.
Neuer has been regarded as the best example of a modern-day goalkeeper. A tall, athletic, and physically-strong player, Neuer has earned critical acclaim for his speed, stamina, composure, concentration, consistency, and mentality. A sweeper keeper, he is exceptional with the ball, isn’t afraid to come out of his line to thwart opposition moves, and has excellent reflexes and shot-stopping ability with both his hands and legs. His accurate distribution has led to many counter-attacking moves and attacking plays in the forward areas.
One of the best goalkeepers to ever grace a football pitch, the German veteran has enjoyed a remarkable career, winning it all with both club and country. Even in the twilight of his career, he continues to be counted among the very best, a testament to his exceptional skill, unwavering consistency, and world-class stature.
Also read: Top 10 fullbacks in Europe in 2024
5. Alisson Becker | Brazil | Liverpool FC
Alisson Becker’s £66.8m move to Liverpool in 2018 made him one of the most expensive goalkeeper transfers of all time, but it wasn’t without reason. Ever since his move, the Brazilian has turned out to be worth every penny for the Merseyside Reds.
Even though Alisson suffered unfortunate injuries in 2024, his criticality for Liverpool can’t be understated. His performances kept the Reds in all four competitions till February last season. In 2023/24, Alisson kept 11 clean sheets in 32 games. This season, he has seven clean sheets in 15 games with a save percentage of 69% and clean sheet percentage of 37.5%. But Alisson’s importance can’t be charted with only these numbers, as his shot-stopping ability is second to none.
The 6’4″ tall Brazil international is probably the best goalkeeper in 1v1 situations; his positioning and awareness in such situations is exceptional. Alisson is also known for his speed and timing when rushing off his line, as well as his ability to clear or challenge for the ball outside the area, or get to ground quickly to collect or parry the ball inside the box. Due to his distribution, he is capable of playing the ball out from the back quickly with his hands as well as his feet, while also having the ability to launch attacks or pick out midfielders and attackers at will with his long goal kicks.
With multiple club honours at Liverpool and a Copa América title with Brazil, Alisson is undeniably one of the best goalkeepers in the world. As one of the standout teams in Europe this season, Liverpool greatly benefit from Alisson’s presence in goal as he goes about consistently proving his worth in high-stakes matches and contributing to the club’s ongoing success.
4. Emiliano Martínez | Argentina | Aston Villa FC
This World Cup– and Copa América–winning Argentine is popular for his antics that may annoy opposition players and fans, but he has also been stellar for both club and country. His performances also earned him the coveted Yashin Trophy for a second time in his career last year.
Martínez led Argentina to another Copa América win in 2024 and also enabled his club side, Aston Villa, to get back into the Champions League after four decades. The Argentine shot-stopper had 15 clean sheets in 47 games in 2023/24. This season, he has six clean sheets in 26 games. He didn’t concede a single goal in regulation time in the Copa América leading Argentina to the title.
Martínez is known for his distribution and shot-stopping ability. He is also known for his notorious antics when trying to stop penalties. He has especially been very effective in saving penalties during shootouts for Argentina several times and enjoys playing mind games with opposition forwards in order to thwart their attempts. This has also earned him criticism from various quarters.
Standing at 6’5″, Martínez is an imposing figure in goal for both club and country, and his importance remains undeniable. If Aston Villa are to push for a return to the Champions League for next season and make a deep run in the competition this time, he must maintain his exceptional form.
3. Unai Simón | Spain | Athletic Club
Unai Simón too had a stellar 2024, performing superbly for both club and country. He helped his national team win the 2024 Euros and also kept the most number of clean sheets for Athletic Club in LaLiga to earn the Zamora Trophy for the best goalkeeping performance in the Spanish topflight for the 2023/24 season.
Simón kept 18 clean sheets in 36 games for Athletic last season. In 2024/25, he hasn’t played much due to a wrist injury sustained during the Euros, having played only four games thus far and managing one clean sheet. He also played almost all of Spain’s games during the Euros.
Simón is known for his strength, reflexes, acrobatic saves, and ability to play from the back. He has excellent ball control and can also launch long passes and fast ground passes. In addition, he can read close shots better than most of his peers.
Thanks to his outstanding performances, Simón was rewarded with a contract extension at Athletic Bilbao until 2029. However, should the talented goalkeeper maintain his impressive form this season, he could certainly attract interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
2. Mike Maignan | France | AC Milan
Since joining AC Milan in 2021 as a replacement for the outgoing Gianluigi Donnarumma, Mike Maignan has been a solid presence in the back for the Rossoneri. He is also the first-choice keeper for the France national team and helped reach the Euros semi-finals last year.
Maignan had an excellent 2023/24 season, keeping 15 clean sheets in 42 games. He has continued his consistent performances this term with eight clean sheets in 27 games. He also kept three clean sheets in six games at the 2024 Euros.
The 29-year-old is a calm, composed presence at the back and comfortable with the ball at his feet. He is also a leader at the back and organises his defence more often. Maignan possesses great reflexes and the ability to make crucial saves in high-pressure games. In addition, his distribution is sublime, which helps his team to start counterattacks from the back.
Maignan is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the moment, and his performances consistently showcase his world-class quality. His agility, shot-stopping ability, and composure under pressure have been key factors in his outstanding displays, solidifying his reputation as one of the elite keepers in football today.
1. Yann Sommer | Switzerland | FC Internazionale Milano
Yann Sommer was, for us, the best goalkeeper in Europe for 2024. He was influential in the Nerazzurri winning the Scudetto in the 2023/24 season. He was also crucial to Switzerland exceeding beyond expectations and reaching the Euro 2024 quarter-finals last year.
Sommer had a stellar season between the sticks for Inter in 2023/24, keeping 25 clean sheets in 43 games, and he has been equally top class in 2024/25 with an unbelievable 16 clean sheets already in 27 games. Even though he has some of the best defenders in the game playing ahead of him, the Swiss shot-stopper has a save percentage of 66.7%, which is still quite excellent.
Sommer is usually one of the most focused players on the pitch. He is one of the most agile keepers as well with exceptional reflexes. He is a strong shot-stopper, especially from close range, and has great distribution skills that enables his team to launch attacks from the back.
Sommer has been a phenomenal addition to an already-formidable defensive lineup at Inter and has quickly established himself as one of the most vital players in the first team. His presence between the posts has been crucial, and he has proven to be a key figure for the team’s defensive solidity. Sommer is one of those players who will be instrumental in Inter’s continued success as they pursue both Serie A and Champions League glory, playing a pivotal role in their ambitions for the future.
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