The key behind winning a match is not just scoring them, but stopping them as well and all that pressure falls on just one man – the Goalkeeper. Over the years, we have seen some legendary goalkeepers like Yashin, Peter Schmeichel, and Van Der Saar leave their mark in the sport and it’s on the current generation goalkeepers to live up to their legacy and they are most certainly doing it. Let’s have a look at some of the best goalkeepers in the footballing world right now.
5. Gianluigi Donnarumma – PSG
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At the age of just 22, Gianluigi Donnarumma has the potential to become one of the best goalkeepers the football world has ever seen. PSG’s best prize of the summer business has to be the arrival of the 22-year-old AC Milan goalkeeper for free. The Italian’s contract expired at the end of last season which allowed the young goalkeeper to join Pochettino’s side for absolutely nothing. Some would say if it weren’t for Donnarumma, Italy wouldn’t have won the Euros which could be true as he won the Player of the Tournament and became the first keeper to win it.
4. Emiliano Martinez – Arsenal
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Since leaving Arsenal for game-time and joining Aston Villa, we have seen a different Emiliano Martinez. His contribution in games has saved Villa on multiple occasions especially last season when Villa was in the relegation battle. If it weren’t for his penalty saves in Copa America, Argentina and Messi could never have got their hands on silverware. According to Messi, “Emi is the best in the world right now”.
3. Alisson Becker – Liverpool
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The 2020-21 season was a tough one for Liverpool due to injury but it was much worse for Alisson Becker who lost his father during the lockdown and couldn’t fly to attend the funeral. The Liverpool goalkeeper kept all things aside and showed up to the matches and it was his last-minute header against West Brom that took Liverpool into the champions league spots. Last season, his clean sheets helped the Reds secure a third-place finish, and this season, the Reds are yet to drop all three points and some of the credit has to go to their goalkeeper.
2. Jan Oblak – Atletico Madrid
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Last season, Atletico Madrid won the Spanish La Liga conceding only 25 goals throughout the season and all that credit goes to their Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Oblack kept a total of 18 clean sheets as he clinched the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the fifth time in six seasons which made him La Liga’s most decorated non-spanish goalkeeper.
1. Edouard Mendy – Chelsea
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Since joining Chelsea last season, Edouard Mendy has replaced Kepa Arrizabalaga as Chelsea’s #1 goalkeeper. Mendy truly earned his spot as #1 with his heroics in the Premier League which helped the club achieve a top four finish and obviously who can forget his contribution in goal throughout Chelsea’s Champions League triumph.
[Image Credit: Edouard Mendy]
Shashank Iyer