Goalkeepers: Courtois, Donnarumma, more

It's not capable for the modern goalkeeper to beryllium bully with his gloves. These days, shot-stoppers are expected to commencement the attacking moves arsenic good arsenic unopen them down.

Agility and reflexes are par for the course, but the champion goalies successful the satellite besides person assurance and daring successful their punishment area, making them look genuinely larger than life.

All stats provided by ESPN Research; each ages and teams close arsenic of June 1.

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Full backs | Center backs | Defensive/Central Midfielders | Attacking Midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards

10. Matz SELS, Nottingham Forest/Belgium, 33 years old

What makes him special: Surprised everyone by being 1 of the toughest goalkeepers to bushed successful the Premier League successful the 2024-25 season.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Made 120 saves, the 4th astir successful the Premier League.

Why he's connected the list: Nottingham Forest person had a singular season, qualifying for European contention for the archetypal clip since the 1990s and besides taking their UEFA Champions League hopes close down to the last crippled of the campaign. None of that would person been imaginable without Sels, who arrived astatine the City Ground from Strasbourg successful a transportation that slipped nether the radar successful January 2024. Sels finished the play with 13 cleanable sheets and shared the league's Golden Glove with Arsenal's David Raya, illustrating conscionable however important the Belgian planetary was to Forest's season.

What helium says: "Nobody thought it would beryllium similar we are doing now, but determination is simply a batch of prime successful the squad -- I saw it erstwhile I signed."

What they say: "For me, it's Matz Sels." -- Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo, erstwhile asked whether Liverpool's Alisson Becker was the champion keeper successful the world.

What's next: Having had an unremarkable vocation until joining Forest -- making 9 league appearances for Newcastle United betwixt 2016 and 2018 -- the 33-year-old indispensable physique connected this season's performances and beryllium that helium tin consistently execute astatine the highest level. He volition person that accidental successful Europe adjacent season, and having established himself arsenic his club's No. 1, Sels has the situation of claiming the No. 2 spot for his state arsenic Thibaut Courtois' understudy up of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. -- Mark Ogden

9. Mike MAIGNAN, AC Milan/France, 29

What makes him special: Known by AC Milan fans arsenic "Magic Mike," Maignan has the penchant for coming up large erstwhile needed.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 7

One cardinal stat: Led each Serie A goalkeepers with 137 saves successful the league and Champions League this season.

Why he's connected the list: It hasn't been a straightforward 2025 for Maignan. The commencement of the twelvemonth saw him marque a flurry of uncharacteristic mistakes -- specified arsenic letting successful this long-range effort against Feyenoord -- but past came redemption done his match-winning saves against Internazionale successful the Coppa Italia semifinal. His turbulent 2025 continued successful mid-April arsenic helium ended up successful the infirmary aft an accidental clashing of heads with teammate Álex Jiménez successful a triumph implicit Udinese. But overall, helium has been 1 of the slightest concerning parts of the Milan instrumentality successful a play successful which the Rossoneri dispensed with 2 managers, mislaid to Bologna successful the Coppa Italia last and finished successful midtable obscurity. It was lone past summertime erstwhile helium was crowned the champion goalkeeper astatine Euro 2024, and with his declaration up successful 2026, helium won't beryllium abbreviated of suitors.

What helium says: "The extremity is big, truthful the archetypal happening is to instrumentality arsenic overmuch abstraction arsenic imaginable connected the line. Then it's a intelligence conflict with the shooter; you person to get into their head." -- Maignan connected his attack to penalties.

What they say: "He has been astatine the champion level for 5 years now. He has been bully since helium arrived astatine AC Milan; helium is bully for the France nationalist team. He is physical, quick, helium has cleanable technique. He is precise strong. He is 1 of the champion successful the world." -- Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

What's next: There's uncertainty implicit Maignan's contract. It's up successful 2026, and contempt suggestions that Milan and the subordinate had reached a verbal statement to widen the deal, it looks similar talks person stalled. He has involvement from the Premier League, truthful it's going to beryllium fascinating what happens to Maignan successful the summertime transportation window, but those who cognize AC Milan amended than astir privation him to enactment put. "I judge helium is 1 of the champion goalkeepers successful the world, and I anticipation helium stays," Milan fable Alessandro Costacurta said. -- Tom Hamilton

8. Unai SIMÓN, Athletic Club/Spain, 27

What makes him special: A cardinal portion of LaLiga's meanest defence and Spain's No. 1 successful an progressively competitory position.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Led LaLiga with the fewest goals against this play (14), minimum 20 games played.

Why he's connected the list: Simón missed the commencement of the season, injured aft helping Spain triumph the European Championship past summer, but helium picked up wherever helium near disconnected upon his instrumentality to enactment successful December. He played a cardinal relation arsenic Athletic Club qualified for the Champions League, keeping 10 cleanable sheets successful 20 appearances successful LaLiga and registering a higher prevention percent (81%) than immoderate different goalkeeper who played much than 5 games. From an xGA (expected goals against) of 17.79, helium conceded lone 11 goals, portion besides showing wide signs of betterment with the shot astatine his feet.

What helium says: "I would emotion to go the champion goalkeeper successful the satellite arsenic an Athletic player."

What they say: "Unai is our savior and the champion goalkeeper successful LaLiga." -- Athletic teammate Iñaki Williams.

What's next: Simón's purpose to go the champion goalkeeper successful the satellite faces a captious 12 months. If helium tin measurement up to the situation adjacent play successful the Champions League with Athletic and past present astatine the World Cup successful a Spain shirt, his estimation volition turn considerably extracurricular of his homeland. -- Sam Marsden

7. Yann SOMMER, Internazionale/Switzerland, 36

What makes him special: A phenomenal athlete, written disconnected arsenic undersized, who is enjoying a late-career renaissance.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 8

One cardinal stat: Had 7 shutouts successful the Champions League, the astir successful the tournament.

Why he's connected the list: Sommer spent the bulk of his vocation astatine FC Basel and Borussia Monchengladbach -- not precisely marquee clubs -- and astir apt should person made this database sooner. He seamlessly replaced André Onana astatine Inter Milan and has gone from spot to spot successful his 2 years astatine the club, rapidly winning implicit skeptics with his explosiveness, positioning and leaping ability. Before that, helium was an exigency stand-in for injured Manuel Neuer astatine Bayern Munich for fractional a season, which suggests helium tends to articulation clubs arsenic a low-key short-term signing, lone to beryllium the doubters incorrect precise quickly. He has been a mainstay for the Swiss nationalist squad arsenic well, with his prevention of Kylian Mbappé's punishment to sound retired France from Euro 2020 arsenic a highlight. And successful 2024-25, helium was a standout for Inter against Barcelona successful some legs of the Champions League semifinal with a drawstring of captious saves -- perchance the champion show ever by a keeper who gave up six goals implicit 2 legs.

What helium says: "The past prevention from Lamine [Yamal] was a precise peculiar one. He's a large subordinate who ever goes wrong and shoots. I'm precise blessed it didn't spell in," Sommer said aft Inter's triumph implicit Barcelona

What they say: "After being criminally underrated his full career, Sommer is yet getting the designation helium deserves." -- Goalkeeping expert Matt Pyzdrowski.

What's next: His woody with Inter expires successful June 2026, erstwhile he'll beryllium 37. The thought was that he'd dilatory marque mode for Josep Martínez successful his last twelvemonth and past spell disconnected to the World Cup. But fixed his performances, helium mightiness good extremity up sticking around. -- Gab Marcotti

6. David RAYA, Arsenal/Spain, 29

What makes him special: Developed a stunning showreel of shot-stopping that has fixed the Gunners a stableness they've lacked for years betwixt the posts.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: Unranked.

One cardinal stat: Recorded the lowest goals-against mean successful the Premier League (0.89, minimum 5 games played).

Why he's connected the list: Raya's accomplishment from Brentford successful summertime 2023 -- initially connected a seasonlong indebtedness earlier completing a £30 cardinal determination -- was greeted with immoderate uncertainty among Arsenal fans who felt the wealth would beryllium amended spent elsewhere. Though Raya did not initially look to beryllium an evident upgrade implicit Aaron Ramsdale, caput manager Mikel Arteta believed the Gunners needed a goalkeeper susceptible of amended organisation to assistance augment their benignant of play. There were nerves astir the Emirates aboriginal connected arsenic helium adjusted to Arteta's demands, but not anymore. Raya has cemented his presumption arsenic 1 of the astir reliable goalkeepers successful the Premier League, regularly demonstrating the precocious attraction levels required to nutrient gravity-defying saves, adjacent successful games Arsenal predominate for agelong periods. Nobody has kept much cleanable sheets for Arsenal successful their archetypal 50 appearances.

What helium says: "Am I 1 of the champion successful the world? I person antithetic aspirations, but that's a speech for you guys to have. Of course, it's bully to beryllium successful that speech and it'll beryllium bully to beryllium there, but my aspiration is conscionable to play football, to beryllium the champion mentation I americium and beryllium amended time and the time after, truthful that's what I'm reasoning close now. Right now? I would say, for me, [the best] is Thibaut Courtois."

What they say: "He's a cat. The archetypal prevention is good, but the rebound is unbelievable. The goalkeeper has been crucial." -- Atalanta caput manager Gian Piero Gasperini, aft Raya's stunning treble prevention helped Arsenal support a cleanable expanse against La Dea successful September.

What's next: Raya played a backup relation to Simón arsenic Spain won Euro 2024. He volition anticipation to usurp the Athletic Club keeper astatine adjacent year's World Cup astatine the extremity of a play successful which Arsenal volition purpose to extremity their trophy drought. -- James Olley

5. Jan OBLAK, Atlético Madrid/Slovenia, 32

What makes him special: The coolest caput successful a crisis, thing fazes Oblak. He's besides 1 of lone 3 players (along with Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski) to beryllium voted into each 9 editions of the ESPN FC 100.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 4

One cardinal stat: Had 15 shutouts successful LaLiga, 3rd astir among goalkeepers successful Europe's apical 5 leagues.

Why he's connected the list: Oblak, 32, is an FC 100 stalwart, and aft a noticeable dip successful caller years pursuing his 2017-2021 peak, this play Oblak looked adjacent to his best. His signifier was instrumental successful helping Atlético prolong a LaLiga rubric situation successful which they topped the array astatine Christmas earlier falling distant successful April. In immoderate of Atlético's champion moments -- particularly the 2-1 triumph astatine Barcelona successful December, oregon November's improbable triumph astatine Paris Saint-Germain by the aforesaid score, erstwhile helium made 8 saves -- Oblak's relation was crucial. He's besides 1 of Atlético's leaders and a Diego Simeone loyalist, ever archetypal to look up to reporters aft a defeat, and ne'er keen to bask successful the spotlight aft a victory. Once regularly linked with a determination to the English Premier League, those reports person gone quiescent successful caller years. That volition suit Atlético and Oblak conscionable fine.

What helium says: "No 1 from the squad slept well. No 1 was feeling great. But contiguous is simply a caller day." -- Oblak, pursuing Atlético's controversial punishment shootout elimination by Real Madrid successful the Champions League.

What they say: "For me, Oblak is the champion keeper we've had since I've been astatine the club. If helium isn't the best, helium competes with the best." -- Atlético Madrid manager Simeone.

What's next: Atlético's home play yet fizzled, but the squad present has a accidental to redeem itself successful the Club World Cup. After that, it's backmost to concern arsenic accustomed successful LaLiga, trying to support up with Barcelona and Real Madrid. -- Alex Kirkland

4. Emiliano MARTÍNEZ, Aston Villa/Argentina, 32

What makes him special: A immense beingness betwixt the posts, loved by fans and hated by rivals.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 2

One cardinal stat: Had the fifth-most touches extracurricular the defending punishment country among goalkeepers successful the Premier League.

Why he's connected the list: After a stop-start aboriginal vocation astatine Arsenal that featured a fig of loans to places specified arsenic Oxford United and Rotherham United, Martínez has recovered a location astatine Aston Villa. He has been cardinal to the resurgence astatine Villa Park that has taken the nine from the Championship to the Champions League. At the planetary level, helium has go Argentina's undisputed No. 1 and has winners' medals from the World Cup and Copa América successful his trophy cabinet. Who tin hide his melodramatic precocious prevention connected Randal Kolo Muani successful the 2022 World Cup final? Moments similar that are astir mean for Martínez. He produced a stunning prevention for Aston Villa against Nottingham Forest successful December, someway blocking Nicolás Domínguez's header connected the line. Aside from outstanding reflexes, Martínez is an organizer and commands his punishment country arsenic good arsenic immoderate goalkeeper successful the world. His signifier mightiness person dipped toward the extremity of the season, but helium remains 1 of the champion successful the Premier League.

What helium says: "Villa's ever been a large club, but present they're seeing it successful the facilities, successful the mode the owners privation to attack each season. You can't person ever '10 retired of 10' seasons, but adjacent though we didn't person the champion season, we're inactive reaching a European competition. When we qualified for the Conference League, we went astir the transportation similar we won a trophy. Now, actually, being successful Europe is thing mean for the nine and for the fans. I deliberation we request to enjoy, arsenic well, the process and the squad we have. The mode we play, the mode we person a operation now."

What they say: "I deliberation helium is much mature. He is simply a amended player, a amended goalkeeper, and present my speech with him is ever the same. He is 1 of the champion goalkeepers successful the world." -- Aston Villa manager Unai Emery.

What's next: Martínez is present 32 and, aft 5 years astatine Villa, determination are murmurings astir a summertime transfer. The question is whether he'll get a move, oregon if he's amended disconnected staying put. -- Rob Dawson

3. Gianluigi DONNARUMMA, Paris Saint-Germain/Italy, 26

What makes him special: Possesses the wingspan of an albatross, the reflexes of a Formula 1 operator and the fearlessness of a bull.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 10

Key stats: Recorded six shutouts successful the Champions League this season, tied for 2nd astir among goalkeepers (Yann Sommer, 7; David Raya, 6), and made 2 saves successful a punishment shootout successful the Champions League knockout phase, tied for the astir since 2010-11.

Why he's connected the list: It's evident that 2025 is his year. Apart from the mistake connected Harvey Elliott's changeable successful the archetypal limb of the round-of-16 Champions League crippled against Liverpool, Donnarumma has been exceptional. He was clutch for PSG truthful galore times successful the Champions League: astatine Anfield against Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah; successful Birmingham against Aston Villa's Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Youri Tielemans; and successful some games against Arsenal, nullifying the efforts of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka. On each the chances from these players, Donnarumma stood ample and made astonishing saves. The miracles connected his enactment compensate for the improvements helium inactive needs to marque connected crosses and successful his organisation but, arsenic a shot-stopper, determination is nary 1 amended than him close now. At 26, and 10 years aft making his debut for AC Milan, "The Wall" (as helium is nicknamed successful the Paris dressing room) has reached a caller level nether the guidance of manager Luis Enrique.

What helium says: "I've grown and developed a lot. Because erstwhile you permission your comfortableness zone, a batch of things inevitably change. PSG person ever had their oculus connected maine and wanted to motion maine for a agelong time. And erstwhile I arrived here, I instantly felt astatine home, and everyone did everything they could to marque definite I fitted successful perfectly."

What they say: "At the moment, Donnarumma is the champion successful the world. I americium struggling to find idiosyncratic amended than him. There are ever highs and lows, but I enactment him up of Courtois, Neuer, [Marc-André] ter Stegen." -- Former Milan, Juventus and Italy fable Gianluigi Buffon.

What's next: There was a clip earlier successful the play erstwhile 1 wondered whether Donnarumma would beryllium a PSG subordinate adjacent year. With his declaration expiring successful June 2026 and talks for an hold not happening, his aboriginal looked successful doubt. Not anymore. He wants to stay, and PSG privation to support him. His agent, Enzo Raiola, and the club's sporting director, Luis Campos, are talking astir a caller woody aft the Italy No. 1 convinced everyone with his caller performances that helium was the champion for the job. -- Julien Laurens

2. ALISSON, Liverpool/Brazil, 32

What makes him special: He has a acquisition for making the bonzer look easy, and cipher is amended successful one-on-one situations than the Liverpool No. 1.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: 1

Key stats: Recorded a shutout successful 10 of 28 Premier League games played, for a 35.7% shutout percent that was the 2nd highest among each Premier League GKs with much than 10 games played (Ederson, 38.5%). In addition, his 32 goals against is the fewest successful Premier League and Champions League play (among players with astatine slightest 20 games).

Why he's connected the list: Alisson's play was somewhat disrupted by wounded but, erstwhile afloat fit, determination is nary denying helium is 1 of the top goalkeepers successful satellite football. Rarely bash you spot the Brazil planetary making "Hollywood" saves, but that astir feels intentional: His exceptional positioning means he's often successful the cleanable spot to marque the stop. He is simply a commanding beingness astatine the backmost and tin often beryllium heard organizing his teammates connected the pitch, portion his eminence successful one-on-one situations outstrips that of immoderate of his competitors successful the Premier League. He is simply a person successful Arne Slot's squad and has played a cardinal portion successful this season's rubric win.

What helium says: "I similar to absorption connected bully positioning. If you person that, you are 1 measurement successful beforehand of the opponent. If you tin enactment earlier [having to] react, it is better. I effort to work the crippled arsenic well, work the striker, look astatine his movements."

What they say: "He is unbelievable, the champion successful the world. In each and each crippled helium shows it and keeps america successful galore games. Without him, I don't cognize wherever we would be." -- Liverpool teammate Harvey Elliott.

What's next: Alisson is nether declaration astatine Liverpool until 2027, though helium has had to fend disconnected involvement from Saudi Arabia successful caller seasons. With Georgia planetary Giorgi Mamardashvili arriving from Valencia this summer, determination could beryllium contention for Liverpool's No. 1 shirt. But based connected this season's evidence, it would instrumentality a peculiar subordinate to displace Alisson successful the starting XI. -- Beth Lindop

1. Thibaut COURTOIS, Real Madrid/Belgium, 33

What makes him special: Still the astir imposing, relentlessly reliable shot-stopper around.

Rank successful 2024 FC 100: Unranked (Courtois sat retired the bulk of the 2023-24 play due to the fact that of an ACL injury).

Key stats: Finished among the apical 4 successful LaLiga (min. 1,500 minutes) successful respective stats: shutouts (11), prevention percent (72%), shutout percent (38%) and goals-against mean (0.97). His 96.2% transverse assertion percent was tied for the highest of his LaLiga vocation (min. 500 minutes).

Why he's connected the list: Courtois has been a fixture connected "world's champion keeper" lists for implicit a decade, and astatine 33, he's showing nary signs of slowing. In fact, this play helium was busier than ever, tidying up down Real Madrid's makeshift, injury-riddled defense. Madrid ended the play without immoderate of their first-choice backmost 4 available, but Courtois made definite that -- barring immoderate dense defeats to Barcelona -- the squad remained mostly competitive. Even successful the season's darkest moments, specified arsenic the 3-0 decision distant astatine Arsenal, Courtois was a shining light, making 2 bonzer treble saves. Overall, helium made a competition-high 52 saves successful 12 Champions League games, with a respectable prevention percent of 71.2%, and a goals prevented (calculated by subtracting goals conceded from expected goals connected people conceded) of 3.67, which ranks sixth among keepers who played 500-plus Champions League minutes.

What helium says: "Sometimes you person to beryllium self-critical. We're a team, and sometimes we person to play much arsenic a team, and little arsenic individuals." -- Courtois, aft Madrid crashed retired of the Champions League.

What they say: "Courtois is the [Diego] Maradona, the [Lionel] Messi, the Cristiano [Ronaldo] of goalkeepers. He's overmuch amended than the rest. He's the champion I've ever seen." -- Former Valencia and Spain goalkeeper Santi Cañizares.

What's next: Looking to prevention Madrid's play -- and kick-start the Xabi Alonso epoch -- astatine the Club World Cup, and past wrestle the rubric of Spain's champion squad backmost from Barcelona. And present that Courtois has ended his self-imposed exile from the Belgium nationalist team, there's the 2026 World Cup to look guardant to. -- Alex Kirkland

The 2024-25 FC 100, presumption by position

Go to: Goalkeeper | Full backs | Center backs | Defensive/Central Midfielders | Attacking Midfielders | Wingers | Center forwards