Behind every good team is an impressive goalie. That’s why, during the Champions League knockout stages, performances from the final line of defense will be crucial for any team that hopes to win and claim the trophy in May. Check 10 Best Goalkeepers in Champions League History.
But, of the 16 teams, which is the most effective goalie? Who can trust the player between the posts to prevent goals from getting through in the pursuit of glory? Here is a selection of the most impressive performances between the players during the past Champions League.
10 Best Goalkeepers in Champions League History
Goalkeepers have been a dominant force in the tournament. The goalie with the highest number of saved Goals in the competition’s history. They have played a long and illustrious career.
Goalkeepers had a remarkable run toward an incredible Champions League History. Goalkeepers have shown an incredible game against many teams. Here you will get the list of the 10 Best Goalkeepers in Champions League History.
10. Edwin van der Sar
One of the few players who have won in the UEFA Champions League with many teams, Edwin van Der Ser is ranked third on the list of goalkeepers with the cleanest sheets during the UCL. The Dutch custodian was awarded the trophy with Ajax (1994-95) and Manchester United (2007-08).
Van der Sar kept clean sheets during the 98 Champions League matches. The Dutchman was a slick player and kept his place tidy. In the past, Van der Sar stood out among other players.
- Nickname: The Flying Dutchman
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 29th Oct 1970
- Age: 52
- Birthplace: South Holland
- Home town: Voorhout
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’6
- Weight: 87 Kg
- Family details: NA
9. Manuel Neuer
When he first joined Schalke, Manuel Neuer was amazed by his performance at his first UEFA Champions League. Neuer led the Bundesliga team to the UCL semis for the first time in club history, with some of the most impressive saves before moving towards Bayern Munich, where he has become the best goalkeeper in the world.
The German and Bavarians have already won 2 Champions League titles (2012-13 & 2019-20). Neuer has accumulated 51 clean sheets in the first half of the season and has played over 100 times in the Champions League.
- Nickname: Manu
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 27th March 1986
- Age: 37
- Birthplace: Gelsenkirchen
- Home town: West Germany
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 93 Kg
- Family details: NA
8. Gianluigi Buffon
He has a rather unlucky record of having the joint-highest number of UCL last matches (3) but without victory. Buffon also holds the record for the third longest time through the Champions League without conceding a goal (690 minutes). Regrettably, Gianluigi Buffon has never won the UEFA Champions League title.
- Nickname: Il Principino
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 28th Jan 1978
- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Carrara
- Home town: Tuscany, Italy
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 84 Kg
- Family details: NA
7. Edouard Mendy
With his position, reach, and concentration, Mendy was superb, making sure the score was 1-1 and stopping Karim Benzema with just one goal. His superb form was the key to the fact that Chelsea took home that year’s Champions League.
ALSO CHECK: The Top 7 Best Goalkeepers in La Liga History
Edouard Mendy of Chelsea looks at his Chelsea FC teammates during the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final, The first Leg contest against Real Madrid.
- Nickname: Edou
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of Birth: 1st March 1992
- Age: 31
- Birthplace: Montivilliers
- Home Town: France
- Education and School: NA
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 93
- Family Details: NA
6. David de Gea
David de Gea was only 20 when he first joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid It is a testimony to his ability that he has remained in his position for over 10 years. He also took home the Golden Glove in 2018 and was part of the PFA team of the year five times.
David de Gea is known for his capacity to use his long legs to impede shots utilizing his feet, which empowers him to make speedy saves that goalkeepers of other types cannot “get down” to make by using their hands.
- Nickname: Blondie
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 7th Nov 1990
- Age: 32
- Birthplace: Madrid
- Home town: Spain
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 82 Kg
- Family details: NA
5. Jan Oblak
Jan Oblak is one of the top goalkeepers in the world today. The Slovenian goalkeeper is one to watch on big occasions. He was an Atletico Madrid keeper in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2015/16 season.
He was defeated by the arch-rivals Real Madrid. With 64 matches in the Champions League for Atletico Madrid, Oblak has kept 30 clean sheets, of which one occurred this season in the match against Porto.
- Nickname: Jump Jump
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 7th Jan 1993
- Age: 30
- Birthplace: Loka
- Home town: Slovenia
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 87 Kg
- Family details: NA
4. Keylor Navas
Keylor Navas might never have made the cut as a star signing at the time of his arrival at Real Madrid. But he was a major player in the era of historic successes for the most successful Champions League team.
Navas made up part of the squad that was the very first side to win the trophy during the Champions League era, part of a trio of crowns won by the Spanish giants during a time that was a time of unparalleled dominance.
The Costa Rican was named the UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Year during the final of the 2018 championships, with his athleticism and reflexes being the key factors in Los Blanco’s victory.
- Nickname: La Pantera
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 15th Dec 1986
- Age: 36
- Birthplace: Pérez Zeledón
- Home town: Costa Rica
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’1
- Weight: 80 Kg
- Family details: NA
3. Joe Hart
In Manchester City’s dream team of international players, an English star was rescued from the shadows, which helped keep the team together. England’s No. 1. Joe Hart, has become an integral part of the City machine and is consistently awe-inspiring between the lines.
Hart might be only 26, but it’s like he’s been around for a long time for the Citizens. A crucial game against Barcelona Manuel Pellegrini’s side’s reward for advancing through the group stage. But their goalkeeper has the right tools to fend off players like Messi and Alexis Sanchez.
- Nickname: Jota, Nani
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 19th April 1987
- Age: 36
- Birthplace: England
- Home town: Shrewsbury
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’5
- Weight: 89Kg
- Family details: NA
2. Petr Cech
Petr Cech has been a star for Chelsea since his time at the club. Cech is the Czech No. 1 and is on his path toward becoming legendary at Chelsea, the West London institution. He already has a Champions League medal under his collection and is eager to add another.
Cech was defeated just three times in the first stage of group play, placing him with the strongest goalie so far. Cech must replicate his form in Galatasaray to maintain Chelsea on the correct path.
- Nickname: Big Pete
- Profession: Football
- Date of birth: 20th May 1982
- Age: 41
- Birthplace: Plzeň
- Home town: Czechoslovakia
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’5
- Weight: 92 Kg
- Family details: NA
1. Jerzy Dudek
Was Dudek’s save in denial of Andriy Shevchenko from two yards out the best of all time in UEFA Champions League history? It could be. In the most famous Champions League final ever.
Dudek was the hero who made that crucial save on Shevchenko and then did a Bruce Grobbelaar-style dancing in the goal line to delay Andrea Pirlo and Shevchenko to make two penalties averted and secure victory in favor of the Reds.
- Nickname: Jerzy
- Profession: Footballer
- Date of birth: 23rd March 1973
- Age: 50
- Birthplace: Rybnik
- Home town: Poland
- Education and schools: NA
- Height: 6’2
- Weight: 82 Kg
- Family details: NA
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