Top 5 best goalkeepers in the world right now
Goalkeepers are asked to do so much more these days than merely save shots. Football, as we know it, has evolved over the previous 25 years or so. It has gotten more difficult, and goalkeepers are expected to expand their skill set in order to become matchwinners.
Most crucially, goalie coaching has developed over time, and managers now demand goalkeepers to participate in build-up play or start from the back. When it comes to rating the top goalkeepers in world football right now, there are a lot of variables to consider, so this is a fascinating debate.
Physicality is vital for the position, but a successful goalie does not have to be 6'6. All of these elements will take a back seat if you're in the ideal setting to thrive. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, for example, has the potential to be the finest goalie at his current level. If the Indian national team can compete at the highest level, Gurpreet will have the opportunity to play against the best attackers in the world and improve his game.
There are so many great goalkeepers in the globe, and there may be some outstanding players in leagues I don't follow, but these are the names I chose after considering all of the factors.
#5 Alisson Becker | Liverpool, Brazil
On the strength of his performances for England at Euro 2020, I wanted to pick Jordan Pickford, who did just as much, if not more, than Gianluigi Donnarumma. He didn't win the tournament, but he only gave up one goal, which came against Denmark in the quarterfinal. It's crucial to remember, though, that a major tournament is only four good weeks of football, which is why Alisson Becker is my pick.
Due to a spate of injuries and a few external reasons concerning his personal life, he had a very up-and-down season at Liverpool, but he's a top, top goalkeeper. It took him until the end of last season to regain the form that Liverpool fans expected of him, but it has no bearing on what he has accomplished for the club and country in recent years.
The goal he scored against West Bromwich Albion proved to be crucial in Liverpool's quest for a UEFA Champions League spot - it was the cherry on top. Alisson is a terrific guy who has earned a reputation for remaining calm in high-pressure situations. He demonstrated great courage by putting aside what happened earlier this season and putting in a streak of good games for Liverpool.
Thibaut Courtois is one of my favorite goalkeepers, but he's never been my first choice. Keylor Navas is another outstanding goalkeeper, and I have nothing but praise for him. His dexterity is incredible, and he's had incredible success with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but he's not on the same level as Alisson in my opinion.
I also wanted to mention Gianluigi Buffon, but there are so many great goalkeepers in the world that I couldn't include him in my top five.
#4 Jan Oblak | Atletico Madrid, Slovenia
For several years, Jan Oblak has been considered as one of the top goalkeepers in the world, and it's easy to understand why. He won La Liga for the first time last season, surrendering only 25 goals in the league, far fewer than any other team in the competition.
Atletico Madrid had an interesting season in that they were in the lead for a long time but had to scramble to cross the finish line at the end. Under Diego Simeone, they've been praised for their defensive stability over the years, and Oblak has been a big part of that.
Atleti won 1-0 and 2-0 games last season, so it may appear that Oblak didn't have much to do as a goalkeeper in front of a staunch backline, but that wasn't the truth. He made a number of key saves between the posts to help his team win the title ahead of Barcelona and Real Madrid, which is quite an accomplishment.
It wouldn't be exaggerating to say that his contributions and clean sheets were vital in their title victory, therefore he is unquestionably among the top goalkeepers on the planet. It would be intriguing to observe how he does with Atletico Madrid this season, as both Barcelona and Real Madrid will be looking to rebound from disappointing seasons in 2020-21.
#3 Ederson Moraes | Manchester City, Brazil
Whether he plays for Manchester City or Brazil, Ederson has a huge influence. He has dethroned Alisson Becker as Brazil's number one goalkeeper, and he intends to keep that position for the long haul. He's a highly successful goalie who has excelled in a variety of areas.
With Manchester City, he reached the UEFA Champions League final and also won the Premier League and the League Cup in the 2020-21 season. The goal Brazil conceded in the Copa America final versus Argentina has gotten a lot of attention, but it wasn't really his fault, in my opinion.
The world of goalkeeping is considerably more than simply making saves; it's about what else you can do to help your team succeed. Ederson has it everything in that department: his distribution is top-notch, he has excellent penalty-area command, and he can even contribute an assist or two, as he has demonstrated over the years.
He's also quite adept with the ball in his hands and is the best long-distance distributor. Sergio Romero, who most recently played for Manchester United, was a standout in this sense, but Ederson is also a master of short-distance distribution. It's difficult to assess this level of performance, and I'd argue that Jordan Pickford is another goalkeeper who excels at it. The difference is that Ederson has demonstrated he can do it regularly and confidently, whereas Pickford's performance is inconsistent.
He would have been my number one goalkeeper a year ago, but the two players above him have proven their worth on the international scene, so he's currently third on my list.
#2 Emiliano Martinez | Aston Villa, Argentina
Emiliano Martinez played a huge part of Argentina's success at the Copa America and, on current form, is one of the top goalkeepers in the world. He had a strong showing in an international tournament after a strong season with Aston Villa, where he preserved 15 clean sheets, which I believe is a Premier League record for a goalie in his first season.
He demonstrated his worth on the biggest platform and made key contributions for Argentina as the Copa America campaign came to a close. Aston Villa did not win a major prize this season, but Dean Smith's team had a successful season, with Martinez playing a key part for the club. He hasn't always been in the spotlight, and he had several loan spells away from Arsenal throughout his time there, but he's now found a home at Villa.
Martinez recognizes that his career has taken a significant step forward in the last year and that he is in the perfect environment to produce regularly. The visuals will be of Lionel Messi kissing the Copa America trophy, but you might argue that Argentina would not have won if Martinez hadn't made such a significant contribution.
#1 Gianluigi Donnarumma | Paris Saint-Germain, Italy
I had to make some tough decisions, but Gianluigi Donnarumma is the best goalkeeper in the world right now, in my opinion. He was instrumental in Italy's success at Euro 2020, proving on the largest platform that he can be a matchwinner at the age of 22. He only gave up three goals in the competition, none of which were his fault, and his contribution to the two penalty shootouts cannot be emphasized.
Donnarumma didn't have much to do in the final versus England until the shootout. He dominated the penalty area, however, and gathered crosses with ease to avoid any danger. He was a bystander for much of the game, but the fact that he came through for his team when it counted most is a testament to his ability.
With his efforts at Euro 2020, Donnarumma solidified his place as one of the top goalkeepers in the modern game, and it will be interesting to see how he fares at Paris Saint-Germain. Emiliano Martinez, as I previously stated, was a huge component of AC Milan's victory in the 2020-21 season and followed it up with a terrific performance at a major event.
I wouldn't say Donnarumma is head and shoulders above every other goalkeeper in the world, but he's probably number one on my ranking right now.
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