New Delhi: Strikers get you goals, wingers showcase their unbelievable pace and skills, midfielders impress the fans with their vision while defenders stand their grounds to dominate the opposition attack. These departments bring loads of excitement in the game, but there’s one more area that proves to be the most crucial one amongst all and it is none other than the spot between the goal-posts.
Goalkeeping is something that you cannot take lightly. A good goalkeeper can save the day for you while at the same time, one mistake can lead to tons of criticisms which makes the job a hundred times difficult. However, over the years we have witnessed some of the most shocking saves and ‘match-saving’ goalkeeping performances from top goalies from around the globe. 2024 was nothing different where these shot-stoppers left their marks on big games with unbelievable athleticism, reach and reflexes.
Here we will be bringing five of the very best shot-stoppers who commanded their penalty area with some real authority. Five is a number where we cannot bring some of the ones who also produced some top class goalkeeping performances including the like of Fiorentina’s recent signing, David De Gea who has been sensational for them after more than a year long absence from the game.
David Raya turned out to be a top class goalkeeper for Arsenal, winning the pretigious golden glove award in the Premier League and the Georgian wall, Giorgi Mamardashivli also introduced himself to the world after some stunning contributions to Georgia’s dream Euro run. Others such as Guglielmo Vicario of Tottenham, Michele Di Gregorio who recently joined Juventus, Vanja Milinkovic Savic of Torino, Unai Simon of Athletic Bilbao also deserved special mentions while veterans such as Marc Andre Ter Stegen and Jan Oblak also proved to be dependable as ever in between the stick for their sides.
However, the ones who made it into the list were just too good to be matched, and their performances have earned them a spot in this list of top five stand-out goalkeepers of 2024.
5) Alex Remiro (Real Sociedad, Spain)
Goalkeepers to keep 18+ clean sheets in a calendar year in LaLiga since 2018:
◎ Jan Oblak (x3)
◎ Marc-André ter Stegen (x2)
◎ Thibaut Courtois (2021)
◎ Yassine Bounou (2021)
◉ Álex Remiro (2024)
The Sociedad shot stopper adds his name to the list. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/tnbh86ESge
— pamshow26. (@JubrilHassan26) December 27, 2024
One of the underrated names in this list has to be Real Sociedad’s long serving Alex Remiro who silently has been one of the best Laliga keepers for a while now and 2024 has yet again turned out to be a great year for the 29-year-old Spaniard. This season, he is leading the clean sheets’ chart with 10 already to his name in 18 appearances in Laliga. He has only conceded 13 goals this season so far, which is only topped by Jan Oblak(12) and Julen Agirrezabala(9) in the league.
He kept a total of 22 clean sheets in all competitions last season, and if we add his 2024/25 numbers, it means that he has kept a total of 34 clean sheets in all competitions, if we combine both the campaigns together. The 2021/22 season’s golden glove winner has yet again delivered the goods for Real Sociedad, where he is currently playing his sixth season. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season pans out for this criminally underrated goalkeeper who does not get the recognition that he deserves.
4) Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)
Just WOW, @Alissonbecker 👏 pic.twitter.com/YpNFEVk5pD
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 28, 2023
One of the usual names in the list, Alisson Becker continues to dominate that Liverpool penalty box where he has produced some mind boggling saves this year to maintain his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The veteran keeper had an impressive save percentage of 72.73% (according to Premier League website), and proved to be a top class performer for The Reds as he as has done so often over the years. The Brazilian had eight clean sheets last season in the League, but his performances were truly outstanding under Jurgen Klopp.
At the age of 32, he has a few more years left in him and his contributions to this Liverpool side has been immense, ever since he made his move from Roma. His numbers may have taken a dip from his prime season back in 2018/19, where he had a total of 21 clean sheets, but his shot stopping qualities on big occasions makes him a top tier goalkeeper, one of the finest in the world.
3) Mike Maignan (AC Milan, France)
Hope this isn’t kiss of death, but it feels like Mike Maignan is back to his best.
Made 4 saves last night including some really important ones to bail us out after a slow start. He was 30/30 on passes and 4/4 on long balls.
He’s stopping goals, organising and creating chances. pic.twitter.com/DbZvXAzJnL
— Kilpin. (@KilpinChronicle) October 23, 2024
AC Milan seem to have finally found the right man in between the sticks after the departure of their previous young shot-stopper, Gianluigi Donnarumma. Mike Maignan spent majority of his career, guarding the posts of French side LOSC Lille, until he made his move to Milan. In his very first season in Italy, he led his Milan side to their first Serie A title since 2010/11 season. Ever since, Milan may have had little to smile about but Maignan has been a tremendous boost for the Italian giants.
Last season, Maignan kept a total of 10 clean sheets while producing some top class saves with a rather shaky defensive line of Milan. He also had an impressive 71.9% save percentage, as Milan managed to clinch the second spot in the table. Maignan has started this season strongly, keeping eight clean sheets so far, in 16 appearances which suggests that he is tied at the top with his Inter rival Yann Sommer in the list.
2) Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, Argentina)
Emi Martínez wins The Best Men’s Goalkeeper 2024 🧤 pic.twitter.com/8u43Ylw8o9
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 17, 2024
The goalkeeper of the year, Emiliano Martinez was honoured with quite a few individual awards this year for his excellent leadership skills and unbelievable shot-stopping for Aston Villa and Argentina. The 32-year-old guided his Aston Villa side to their first Champions League qualification in over 40 years. The World Cup winning goalie also helped Argentina to win the Copa America with his outstanding performances. The veteran kept eight clean sheets in the Premier League and turned out to be a massive figure for the Villans.
This season, Villa are doing extremely well in the Champions League where Martinez is enjoying a run of four clean sheets in six appearances, conceding just three times so far. It is his leadership abilities that have made him this successfull as he recently got voted as the goalkeeper of the year for the second time in the last three years. Martinez was also presented with the Lev Yashin award this year that proved how dominant he was in his department, marking a wonderful year for the Argentine.
1) Yann Sommer (Inter, Switzerland)
🇨🇭 Yann Sommer 2023/24 season:
👕 43 GAMES
🔒 25 CLEAN SHEETS
🥅 23 GOAL CONCERNED
🏆 SERIE A
🏆 ITALIAN SUPER CUP
🥇 SERIE A GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR
But they are still giving the award to the guy who won the 2022 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/p62z7xvv89
— Moonsport Football (@moonsportcom) December 18, 2024
A season that is not being talked about enough, is Yann Sommer’s fantastic 2023/24 campaign with the Italian champions Inter, where the Swiss veteran turned out to be one of the factor behind their league dominance. 19 clean sheets, just 22 goals conceded, and winning the Serie A title with a massive 19 points gap is something unreal, but Yann Sommer made it happen with his Inter side. The 36-year-old was topped the league statistics, not just in terms of clean sheets, but also the save percentage with an outstanding 80.8% in the league.
He was a key figure in Inter’s outstanding season where they only lost two games all season. The Swiss international has yet again kicked this campaign off with nine clean sheets already in 17 matches. That ranks him first in that list while also having a save percentage of an impressive 72.2, suggesting that he has been a wall for Inter’s outstanding defensive backline. The Swiss International has been underrated throughout his career but his performances with Inter are forcing everyone to take note of the veteran keeper.
From stunning saves to unmatched consistency, here’s a look at the top five goalkeepers who made their commanding presence felt at the back of their respective defensive lines, leading with resilience and brilliance. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
