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10 Best Goalkeepers in the World: 2023-24 Power Rankings

We took our list of best keepers in 2022-23 and compared it against the best goalkeepers in the world right now. After a strong World Cup in Qatar, Juventus keeper Wojciech Szczesny drops off our list and PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma enters the rankings.

Let’s take a look at our power rankings and who the top 10 best goalkeepers in the world are.  

10. Manuel Neuer (-1)

Bayern Munich is preparing for the future. Sven Ulreich has been filling in between the sticks and the club bought Israeli keeper Daniel Peretz over the summer. When Neuer returns from injury following a skiing accident which ended his season last December, we’ll be reminded of his freak reflexes and sweeping ability.

Let’s not forget, this is the same Neuer that has revolutionized the way the sweeper-keeper role is played.

9. Yassine Bounou (-1)

After winning two Europa League titles with Sevilla, Yassine Bounou cashed in and joined Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. Personally, I would have loved to have seen Bounou ply his trade in the Premier League as he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.

Al-Hilal have themselves a star keeper to match superstar forward Neymar, and they’ll be relying on the 6-foot-5 shot stopper’s consistency, positioning and his excellent one-on-one ability.

8. Mike Maignan (-1)

Mike Maignan was outshone by Lazio’s Ivan Provedel last season but the Frenchmen will be looking to rebound with a strong season to back up his Serie A Golden Glove award of 2021-22. Maignan’s ability to act like a third centre-back with such confidence helps Milan push up the field further, which has helped his side in both Italian and European competition. 

7. Jan Oblak (-3)

Jan Oblak drops three places on our list and after crashing out of the Champions League at the group stage last season, Atletico Madrid will be looking to solidify their status as being one of the hardest teams to crack in Europe.

As fantastic as Oblak’s positioning and reflexes are, he’ll always be limited by his lack of passing and sweeping ability which is an almost-must in the modern game.

6. Emiliano Martinez (-1)

Since Emiliano Martinez’s £20 million pound move to Aston Villa in 2020, he’s been a revelation and has helped elevate Villa to the next level with his exceptional reflexes, positioning and dependability at the back. 

Martinez recorded 11 clean sheets last season, falling short of a club record 15 in 2021-22. The World Cup winner continues to play a key part in Villa’s push to qualify for Champions League football for the first time since the European Cup era. 

5. Gianluigi Donnarumma (new)

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been a rock at the back for PSG with his great reactions and composure and has over the years shared keeping duties with Keylor Navas, Gianluigi Buffon, Kevin Trapp and Alphonse Areola.

Even when PSG are out of form, its seemingly always Donnarumma who remains consistent and he stayed composed to guide the team to another Ligue 1 title last season ahead of a fast finishing Lens.  

4. Alisson Becker (-3)

Alisson Becker is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has helped transform Liverpool into one of the best teams in Europe. After the disaster of the 2018 Champions League Final, Liverpool spent a then record £65m to buy Allison from Roma.

Liverpool’s shot-stopping woes finally ended and he managed to win a Champions League and Premier League title with the club already. The complete goalkeeping package, Becker dropped down the list mostly because those around him have been taking their game to a new level. He’ll be looking to get Liverpool back on top of both the Premier League and in Europe.

3. Ederson (no change)

Ederson has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world since joining Manchester City in 2017 and he helped Manchester City to become the second English club to win the continental treble. Ederson kept 11 clean sheets in the Premier League last season but it was his Champions League campaign that went up another level with 7 clean sheets in 11 games.

2. Thibaut Courtois (no change)

Last season’s Yashin Trophy winner Thibaut Courtois is the second best goalkeeper in the world and continually proves that he has arguably the best reflexes, and is the most agile in the game.

Courtois however suffered a torn ACL in his left knee which will keep him out for the entire 2023-24 campaign making it likely he’ll slip down the list as the season progresses.  

1. Marc-André ter Stegen (+5)

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has rocketed up our rankings and is the best goalkeeper in the world right now. Barcelona ran away with another La Liga title last season and ter Stegen was a big part of that registering an incredible 26 clean sheets in 38 games, conceding only 16 goals.

Ter Stegen continues to compliment Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of play with his commanding sweeper-keeper style of play, quick reflexes and acrobatics, and he’d probably hold his own if he had to play in the outfield.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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