Top ten goalkeepers of 2021-22 season

Shot-stoppers are more often than not the unsung heroes in football.

Goalkeepers are the unsung heroes of our beautiful game. Their contributions are inevitable and often go unnoticed. In the recently concluded UEFA Champions League final we saw how Thibaut Courtois’s heroics helped Real Madrid win another title. In this article, we will cover the best No 1’s of the 2021-22 season.

10. Edouard Mendy (Chelsea)

The Senegalese came into the limelight after Petr Cech spotted him in Ligue 1. He was bought for just 20 million by Chelsea back in the 2020/21 season and he has been phenomenal ever since. The goalkeeper played a significant role in Chelsea's Champions League triumph last year. Even though Chelsea had a rough season, Mendy made some match-winning saves this season as well. He was also excellent for his national team and helped them clinch the AFCON this season.

9. Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona)

Ter Stegen had a huge hype around him, but the German goalkeeper could not continue his form. But he has revived himself this season and was one of FC Barcelona’s best players. The German international still needs to cover up some ground to replace veteran Manuel Neuer in the national team. The goalkeeper has a 71.16% save percentage which shows how crucial he is for FC Barcelona. Ter Stegen is just 29 and still has his prime years ahead of him.

8. Keylor Navas (PSG)

Playing as the second goalkeeper in PSG, Navas still carries a valuable reputation to his name. The Costa Rican was one of Real Madrid’s best goalkeepers before being replaced by Thibaut Courtois. Navas was also popularly known as the “The Wall” because of his exceptional penalty-saving ability. He is also known for his consistency which has contributed to major wins for his team. Navas made 21 appearances in the French league last term and kept nine clean sheets.

7. Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)

Donnarumma has been in the ranks for quite some time. He has been playing for AC Milan since the very young age of 16. He has now established himself as the PSG’s first-choice goalkeeper and is an excellent prospect for the future. He already has multiple records at such a young age. He has an impressive 81.2% save from shots inside the box. His overall save percentage is 71.6%.

6. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid)

One of the rare Slovenians who have made big in football is Jan Oblak. The Atletico Madrid goalkeeper is easily one of the best players in the squad and has stepped up on every occasion possible. Oblak is known for his positioning and concentration. His height contributes to his goalkeeping skills as well along with his reflexes. In 38 La Liga appearances, he had 12 clean sheets and conceded 43 goals.

5. David De Gea (Manchester United)

David De Gea is one of the few positives Manchester United fans had this season. The Spaniard was on top form this season and was easily their best player after Cristiano Ronaldo. He had the 3rd most saves this season in the Premier League. The goalkeeper also had the joint-most penalty saves in the Premier League this season. He possesses leadership qualities as well which makes him an influential figure in the Manchester United dressing room.

4. Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Thibaut Courtois is one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era. The Belgian won 2 Premier League titles with Chelsea before moving to Real Madrid in a rather controversial move. He aimed to win the Champions League with Madrid which he successfully did this season. He was the man-of-the-match in the final and helped Madrid to yet another Champions League triumph. In 49 appearances this season, he kept 20 clean sheets and conceded a total of 46 goals.

3. Ederson (Manchester City)

Brazil's manager Tite has a problem of plenty in the goal-keeping department with both Ederson and Allison at the top of their game. Since his move to Manchester City, Ederson has won 4 Premier League titles, 4 Carabao Cups, and 1 FA Cup. Even though he is yet to put a Champions League medal to his name, there is no doubt that Ederson is still top-class. In 37 Premier League appearances this term, he kept 20 clean sheets to his name.

2. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

The German holds his position as one of the top goalkeepers around. He is the captain of Bayern Munich and the German National team. Neuer is strong and tall which makes him an intimidating figure between the posts. He can run forward and clear the ball which makes him special. Neuer kept 14 clean sheets across all competitions this term.

1. Allison Becker (Liverpool)

The Brazilian has been a popular name in the Liverpool squad ever since his debut in 2017. He has won every possible trophy with them and is a vital cog of this team. His goal against West Brom sealed Liverpool’s champions league berth last season. Liverpool had an excellent season, fighting for both Champions League and Premier League only to lose both in the finals and by a single point respectively. Nevertheless, they won two tournaments in form of FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

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