With the World Cup over, let's take a look at who the best goalkeeper in world football was over the past year. ESPN FC 100's 10th Anniversary Ranking provides the answer.
What makes a world-class goalkeeper? Keeping the ball out of the net is always the top priority, but modern goalkeepers face increasingly higher demands. Athletic ability, composure, and accurate passing are all essential, and the best goalkeepers always seem to be in the right position at crucial moments.
When crucial matches are hanging in the balance, having a top-class saver in front of the goal often distinguishes one from the other. Goalkeepers don't usually make headlines, but these 10 goalkeepers have all been in the spotlight at different stages over the past year, and they deserve to be in the FC 100.
All data is provided by ESPN Research; all age and team information is accurate as of August 18.
10. Matvey Safonov, Paris Saint-Germain/Russia, 27 years old
What makes him special: he's the king of penalty shootouts. Imagine saving four out of five penalties to help your team win a title—that's what Safonov did when he led Paris Saint-Germain to the Intercontinental Cup victory against Flamengo.
2025 FC 100 Rankings: Not Listed
Number of FC 100 selections: First time selected
A key statistic: Last season, he kept 8 clean sheets in 15 league appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, the highest clean sheet rate among all goalkeepers in Ligue 1 with at least 15 appearances, reaching 53.3%.
Reason for selection: After Donnarumma's departure last summer, Safonov's performance in stepping up was impressive. Most didn't believe he could shoulder the responsibility of helping Paris Saint-Germain continue their success; the European champions even signed then-Ligue 1's best goalkeeper, Shevalier, at the beginning of the 2025-26 season for a hefty €50 million transfer fee, and Safonov was initially relegated to the bench. However, the 27-year-old Russian international quickly impressed manager Luis Enrique, rapidly establishing himself as a starter and becoming a key part of the team's Champions League title defense. In the knockout stages, whether at Liverpool, Munich, or Chelsea's home ground, he consistently made the necessary saves—consistent, reliable, and error-free.
Safonov may never become the world's best saver or possess the most outstanding passing ability, but he has gradually adapted to the Paris Saint-Germain first-choice goalkeeper position and delivered the expected performance in this important season.
Next: The competition at this level is fierce. Despite Safonov's good performance last season, Paris Saint-Germain is still looking for other goalkeepers this summer to create more competition for him. His number one spot is not secure, and he cannot take it for granted; however, this also gives him another chance to prove everyone wrong. -- Julien Laurens
9. Jordan Pickford, Everton/England, 32 years old
What makes him special: the number one goalkeeper for both his club and national team, a hero beloved by fans.
2025 FC 100 Rankings: Not Listed
Number of FC 100 selections: First time selected
A key statistic: He kept 11 clean sheets last season, tied for the third-highest number among Premier League goalkeepers, behind only David Raya's 19 and Donnarumma's 15.
Reason for selection: Everton fans recently created a chant in the stands calling Pickford "dynamite," which perfectly captures the feeling he's brought to the Merseyside club since joining from Sunderland in 2017. Last season, he played every game for David Moyes' team, making numerous brilliant saves and briefly keeping their hopes of European qualification alive, but a disappointing end to the season dashed those hopes. This summer, he started all but one of England's World Cup matches for the national team. While some of his performances drew criticism, his outstanding performance in the 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteke Stadium proved his ability.
Next: Pickford signed a new contract with Everton last season and will stay with the team until at least the summer of 2029. His primary concern is helping Chelsea qualify for European competitions and go further in cup competitions, while also securing a starting position in the England national team. -- Beth Lindop
8. Diogo Costa, Porto/Portugal, 26 years old
His special qualities are: efficiency, intelligence, and composure. Everyone is waiting to see when he will make his way to a bigger European league.
2025 FC 100 Rankings: Not Listed
Number of FC 100 selections: First time selected
A key statistic: He is the first goalkeeper since the 2022-23 season to achieve more than 20 clean sheets in a single Portuguese league season (Flachodimos achieved 21 clean sheets in the 2022-23 season).
Reason for selection: Costa joined Porto's first team as early as 2019, but he did not truly become a goalkeeper to watch until he took the number one goalkeeper position from the injured Massim in 2021.
Since then, his upward trajectory has been steady. Costa rarely misses a game and has now developed into one of the most intelligent sweeper-goalkeepers in modern football, taking the baton from Neuer and others to become a calm, alert passer capable of initiating attacks from the back. His throws and footwork are both very threatening, and he can use well-placed passes to break down opponents' pressing.
Costa possesses exceptional ball control and game reading ability in defense, but his pure save percentage has largely hovered around 70% throughout his career, leaving room for improvement. This summer, though short, was busy; Portugal reached the round of 16 before losing to Spain, but Costa delivered career-best statistics for the 2025-26 season – a 79.7% save percentage and 0.46 goals conceded per 90 minutes – helping Porto win another league title. Trends indicate he continues to improve, and while he will turn 27 next month, he is still some distance from his peak.
Next: Following the World Cup, reports surfaced that Chelsea were interested in the Portuguese star as manager Xabi Alonso sought to upgrade his goalkeeping options. Manchester United have also been linked with Costa in recent transfer windows, but he continues to progress steadily, and unless someone makes a formal offer – Porto will naturally demand a high price for their number one goalkeeper – he will be poised for another season, including his first Champions League appearance since 2023-24. -- James Tyler
7. Alisson, Liverpool/Brazil, 33 years old
What makes him special: a Liverpool legend who remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
2025 FC 100 Ranking: 2
Number of FC 100 selections: 8
A key statistic: Two clean sheets in the 2026 World Cup, bringing his career total to seven World Cup clean sheets, ranking third among Brazilian goalkeepers in terms of clean sheets in the World Cup over the past 60 years.
Reason for inclusion: Last season was not a classic season for Liverpool and Alisson, as he missed several games due to muscle problems. The persistent injuries have lowered his ranking on this list, but when healthy, his top-level performance is undeniable.
At 33, Alisson remains one of the world's best goalkeepers in one-on-one situations, which is why he firmly held onto Brazil's number one spot at this summer's World Cup. His towering 1.93-meter height and impeccable positioning make it difficult for opposing strikers to find opportunities, while his extensive experience in top-level matches makes him a valuable asset to both his club and national team.
Next: Rumors circulated this summer that Alisson might leave, with Juventus reportedly interested. However, Liverpool insist they want him to fulfill the final year of his contract. If this truly is his last season at Anfield, he will certainly want to end this glorious chapter with a stellar performance. -- Beth Lindop
6. Emiliano Martinez, Aston Villa/Argentina, 33 years old
What makes him special: Goalkeepers rarely possess the X-factor that can single-handedly decide a game, combining ability and personality, and Martinez clearly possesses both.
2025 FC 100 ranking: 4
Number of FC 100 selections: 5
A key statistic: He made 11 saves in the 2026 World Cup final, setting a new record for the most saves in a World Cup final in the past 60 years, and tying the second-most saves in a single knockout match in the past 60 years, second only to the 15 saves made by American goalkeeper Tim Howard in the round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup.
Reason for selection: Martinez had an outstanding 2025-26 season at Aston Villa, helping the team finish fourth in the Premier League and secure Champions League qualification for the 2026-27 season. He also won the Europa League, keeping a clean sheet in the 3-0 final victory over Freiburg despite breaking a finger in warm-up. This kind of scene best encapsulates the Argentine goalkeeper, as he is always at the center of the story.
Last season, he made a long string of incredible saves, along with several equally incredible mistakes; in the goal-scoring combination against Lille, he delivered a pass so perfect that his teammates didn't swarm the scorer Jonathan McGinn, but instead rushed towards him. With this form and a fractured finger, he participated in the 2026 World Cup, helping Argentina reach the final and making 10 saves, holding off Spain's attacks for as long as possible.
In the World Cup final, what kind of goalkeeper could outmaneuver Lionel Messi? This guy.
Next: Juventus' transfer interest has cooled, and it now appears he will continue to play for Aston Villa in the Champions League next season. -- Sam Tighe
5. Joan García, Barcelona/Spain, 25 years old
What makes him special is that after joining La Liga champions Barcelona, his world-class saves immediately made the team's defense more solid.
2025 FC 100 Rankings: Not Listed
Number of FC 100 selections: First time selected
A key statistic: Among goalkeepers who have made more than 30 appearances in the 2025-26 season, he has conceded the fewest goals in Europe's top five leagues, with only 21 goals conceded.
Reason for selection: Last summer, he made a controversial €25 million move from Espanyol to Barcelona, after which Garcia had a breakout season with the Catalan club. His performances directly helped Javi Flick's team score points in several matches, including two against Rayo Vallecano and one away against his former club Espanyol. His incredible save against Pere Miria was also named La Liga's best save of the season.
Barcelona's high defensive line often left him vulnerable, but his outstanding performances emboldened the team to continue playing that way, even though it meant he was often very busy. At the end of the season, he topped the league with a GPRV (goals prevented) of 10.72, keeping 15 clean sheets in 30 matches and conceding only 21 goals. In contrast, Barcelona conceded 15 goals in the eight matches in which Wojciech Szczesny played.
Next: Garcia quickly secured his place as Barcelona's number one goalkeeper, forcing Ter Stegen to join Ajax on loan for the 2026-27 season to find playing time. Garcia's current task is to replicate his league performances in the Champions League, where he's not bad, but there's certainly room for improvement. It feels like he'll eventually take the Spanish goalkeeper position from Unai Simón, but after Simón helped Spain win their second World Cup this summer, Garcia may have to wait a while longer and work harder to earn the national team's number one spot. -- Sam Marsden
4. Unai Simón, Athletic Bilbao/Spain, 29 years old
What made him special was that he kept David Laya and Joan Garcia out of Spain's starting goalkeeper position and also brought home a World Cup medal.
2025 FC 100 Ranking: 8
Number of FC 100 selections: 2
A key statistic: He set a new World Cup record for the longest consecutive clean sheet, reaching 649 minutes, breaking the record of 517 minutes set by Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga in 1990.
Reason for selection: Forget about the 2025-26 La Liga season; Simon's performance for Athletic Bilbao that year was actually quite average. What the Spanish goalkeeper will truly be remembered for is everything he did for his country at this summer's World Cup. He conceded only one goal in eight matches and won the Golden Glove award, an undeniably remarkable achievement. Yes, the team's defensive structure and possession-based style played a significant role, but when it came down to it, he stepped up – for example, making three crucial saves in the semi-final against France.
Many observers considered Spain coach Luis de la Fuente's decision to leave out Raya and Garcia and continue relying heavily on Simón to be too risky. However, his trust in the Basque goalkeeper as a leader and his composure and reliability under pressure was ultimately proven at the World Cup. Simón now holds the World Cup and the European Championship won two years ago. He is already a legend in Spanish football, even if he is not yet Spain's strongest, or even the second-best.
Next, the first priority is to lead Athletic Bilbao under new manager Edin Terčić to improve their mediocre 12th place finish in La Liga last season. At least this time they won't be distracted by European competitions. Last season's Champions League campaign—a 29th place finish in the league stage, including several heavy defeats—proves that level is still too difficult for them.
For the Spanish national team, Simeone must once again hold onto his number one goalkeeper position, given that the world champions will face England in the UEFA Nations League in September. Will De la Fuente continue to trust his favorite player, or will he choose to replace him? -- Alex Kirkland
3. Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City/Italy, 27 years old
What makes him special is his extremely imposing physical condition; he may be the world's strongest pure goalkeeper.
2025 FC 100 ranking: 3
Number of FC 100 selections: 7
A key statistic: He kept 15 clean sheets in 34 Premier League appearances last season, a clean sheet rate of 44%. This figure ranks second among Premier League goalkeepers this season, second only to David Raya's 51% (among goalkeepers who have played more than one game), and is also his highest clean sheet rate in a single league season of his career.
Reason for selection: After helping Paris Saint-Germain win the Champions League in 2025, Donnarumma was told he was no longer in their plans. He then joined Manchester City and performed well in his first Premier League season, even winning the internal competition with James Trafford to become the first-choice goalkeeper. While some still question his footwork, he made numerous brilliant saves, helping Manchester City come within one step of winning the trophy in Guardiola's farewell season.
Next: With Guardiola gone, Donnarumma hopes to secure his starting goalkeeper position under Enzo Maresca. He is also eager to achieve something with the national team, as Italy fails to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time this summer. -- Rob Dawson
2. Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid/Belgium, 34 years old
His special feature: His height of 1.99 meters makes him one of the most imposing saves in world football, and he can always meet the challenge at both club and national team levels.
2025 FC 100 Ranking: 1
Number of FC 100 selections: 8
A key statistic: Last season he kept 13 clean sheets in La Liga, a clean sheet rate of 41%, both ranking second in the league.
Reason for selection: Real Madrid's La Liga season was less than ideal, ultimately falling far behind Barcelona, but Courtois wasn't the problem. He conceded 28 goals in 32 league appearances, a figure only surpassed by Barcelona's Joan García, who averaged 0.88 goals conceded per game. His 13 clean sheets in La Liga are also more than any other player, only García has achieved.
In the Champions League, Courtois's 81.5% save percentage was crucial to Real Madrid's run to the quarterfinals, a record second only to David Laya. Then, in their first major international tournament since 2022, Courtois helped Belgium reach the World Cup quarterfinals. In a 1-1 draw against eventual champions Spain, he suffered an injury, and a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Sene Lamenz led to Belgium's elimination. Had Courtois been on the pitch, the outcome might have been very different.
Next: Real Madrid is embarking on a new chapter under José Mourinho. For years, Courtois has longed for a more stable defense, stricter discipline, and better management of the training ground; with Mourinho in charge, he may now be getting his wish. Real Madrid has also invested heavily in its squad this summer, especially in defense, with the goal of reclaiming the La Liga title.
As for Belgium, Courtois wants a break. He said after the World Cup: "I want a quieter year, and hopefully I can stay in Madrid for the Nations League. If Belgium accepts that, I'd be happy to continue playing." -- Alex Kirkland
1. David Laya, Arsenal/Spain, 30 years old
What makes him special is that he is a world-class saver, perfectly suited to the physical style of the Premier League.
2025 FC 100 ranking: 6
Number of FC 100 selections: 2
A key statistic: He kept 19 clean sheets in the Premier League last season, four more than any other goalkeeper; and his 48 clean sheets over the past three Premier League seasons are 12 more than any other goalkeeper.
Reason for selection: Raya was one of the key players in Arsenal's 2025-26 Premier League title win and Champions League runner-up finish. Last season, Arsenal achieved 32 clean sheets in all competitions, and Raya was perhaps the most outstanding link in this excellent defensive line, earning him his third consecutive Premier League Golden Glove award. He has grown from a player overshadowed by the debate over whether he was better than Ramsdale when he first joined the Emirates Stadium into a top-class goalkeeper.
Raya has every reason to believe he is the best goalkeeper in the world, but he did not get any playing time during Spain's World Cup victory because coach Luis de la Fuente trusted Unai Simón more.
