As forwards are judged by their goals, the best goalkeepers are measured by the number of clean sheets they keep at the end of the season. They are also judged according to their distribution, passing, and agility. Read on to learn more about the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in football.
Goalkeepers have treated the world of football to some of the most magical and inspiring saves ever. Great goalkeepers such as Manuel Neuer, Casillas, and Peter Cech, among others, are a few of these keepers. So, who is the goalkeeper with the most clean sheets in the world? Read on to find out.
Great goalkeepers also decide matches for teams making important saves and starting play. They are one of the most underrated people on the field. So, here are some of the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets of all time:
15. Samir Handanovic-278 (36%)
He is of Slovenian descent and currently plays for Serie A side Inter Milan. He has played for prestigious clubs such as Lazio, Udinese, Rimini, Treviso and Zagorje.
14. Andriy Pyatov-285 (46%)
The Ukrainian international and showstopper has inspired some fulfilling moments for his fans. He has kept 285 clean sheets, which is incredible. He has played for Artemida Kirovohrad, Vorskla Poltava, and Shakhtar Donetsk.
13. Rui Patricio-291 (39%)
The Portuguese international is one of the most prolific showstoppers ever. He has 291 clean sheets. He has played for Sporting CP, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Roma.
12. David James-292 (32%)
The Englishman played for prestigious clubs all over, such as Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham United, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, AFC Bournemouth, IBV and Kerala Blasters. Throughout his career, he had over 292 clean sheets.
11. Hugo Lloris- 301 (36%)
The Tottenham Hotspur keeper is a French international. He has played for clubs such as Nice, Lyon and Tottenham, keeping 301 clean sheets.
10. Jens Lehmann-309 (36%)
He was an elite shot-stopper for clubs such as Schalke 04, Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal, and VfB Stuttgart. He kept 309 clean sheets while at it.
9. Mickael Landreau-309 (39%)
The Frenchman has played for elite teams such as Nantes, PSG, Lille and Bastia, winning various awards. He has also kept more than 309 clean sheets cracking into the top 10.
8. Oliver Kahn-322 (37%)
Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, Oliver Khan always showed his quality on the pitch. He played for Karlsruher and Bayern Munich. He boasts of 322 clean sheets over more than 600 appearances.
7. Igor Akinfeev-346 (42%)
The Russian played for only one club, CSKA Moscow. He has over 500 appearances for the club and has kept 346 clean sheets. This results in an incredible 42% save percentage.
6. Manuel Neuer-353 (45%)
The German is considered by some as the GOAT of all goalkeepers due to his incredible athleticism and theatrics. He is intelligent in front of the ball hence his 353 clean sheets. He has played for two clubs, Schalke 04 and Bayern Munich.
5. Pepe Reina-358 (40%)
Reina has played for Barcelona, Villareal, Liverpool, Napoli, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Aston Villa and Lazio. He has been able to keep 358 clean sheets breaking him into the top 5. The Spaniard is known for his heroic performances.
4. Petr Cech-397 (44%)
Some consider him the greatest goalkeeper ever due to the records in his name. He is known for his heroic performances in Chmel Blsany, Sparta Prague, Rennes, Chelsea and Arsenal. The Czech Republic international had 397 clean sheets.
3. Iker Casillas-440 (42%)
He is one of Real Madrid’s most prolific goalkeepers. He was an intelligent athlete with a physicality many dream of. He had over 440 clean sheets in his career playing for Real Madrid and Porto.
2. Edwin van der Sar-440 (46%)
The Manchester United legend was a joy to watch with his athletic saves. He had over 440 saves in his career. The Dutch footballer played for teams such as Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United.
1. Gianluigi Buffon-501 (44%)
The list would not be complete without legendary Italian goalkeeper Gian Luigi Buffon. He is one of the players with the longest careers. He has played for teams such as Parma, Juventus, and PSG, keeping more than 501 clean sheets.
Teams with the most clean sheets in Europe
Keeping a clean sheet is not easy. Every aspect of your game must go perfectly well. Here are some teams with the most clean sheets in Europe:
Team | Clean sheets |
Burgos CF | 11 |
UD Las Palmas | 9 |
Preston North End | 9 |
Sheffield Wednesday | 8 |
Barcelona | 7 |
Which goalkeeper has the most clean sheets?
Gianluigi Buffon of Italy has the most clean sheets. He has over 501 clean sheets throughout his career.
Which goalkeeper has the most clean sheets in 2022?
Jose Antonio Caro has the most clean sheets in 2022. He plays for Burgos CF and has had 11 clean sheets in 11 games.
Which keeper had the most clean sheets in 2021?
Alisson Becker of Liverpool had the most clean sheets in 2021, earning him the golden glove for a second time. He also registered an assist against Norwich.
Who is the best goalkeeper in the world in 2022?
Alisson Becker is seen as the best goalkeeper in the world in 2022. He, besides his countryman Ederson have shown quality in the Premier League, having the most clean sheets.
Having the most clean sheets requires discipline, hard work and talent, and good defender coordination. Gianluigi Buffon has the most clean sheets in world football. He boasts an impressive 501 clean sheets with a 44% save percentage. Many are curious about who the next legendary goalkeeper will be.
READ ALSO: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thierry Henry and Neymar Among the 10 Greatest Players Never to Win Coveted Ballon d’Or
Sportsbrief.com also published a list of the top 10 greatest players never to win the Ballon d’Or. The Ballon d’Or is the most coveted trophy in world football. These players were amazing and did not win the prize due to one thing.
So, who are they, and why did they not win? Read more by clicking on the link above!
