Goalkeepers, quite frankly, used to be the last thought on a manager’s mind when preparing a transfer strategy. Nowadays, transfers of world-class shot stoppers cost tens of millions of euros. But, when analyzing the stats, the fees are well worth it. And this is why today I am looking at the very best goalkeepers in the world in 2023.
Best Goalkeepers in the World in 2023
Augusto Batalla (Granada)
Augusto Batalla is not the most famous goalkeeper in the world by any stretch of the imagination, And Granada is a team starring down the barrel of La Liga relegation. But the stats don’t lie. The Argentine. Batalla has always been called to action and has put up great figures. He has a save percentage of nearly 70% and strong passing and goal-kick-taking abilities.
Paulo Gazzaniga (Girona)
Paulo Gazzaniga has shown young footballers once more that they need to go where they are most appreciated. Choosing to say goodbye to a lucrative job as second-choice keeper at Tottenham, Gazzaniga joined Michel‘s Girona and has had a memorable season, being arguably La Liga’s top goalkeeper.
Mark Flekken (Brentford)
Mark Flekken doesn’t quite get the respect he deserves. Like others on our list, this is partly due to the status of the team for which he is playing. But, the Brentford keepers’ reflexes and ability to instinctively and perfectly ping out long passes make him one of the best goalies in the Premier League today.
Mike Maignan (AC Milan)
Mike Maignan is the kind of keeper that, even on a bad day, makes his team better. In fact, AC Milan was never near their best when it came to having to replace him because of injury concerns. A player that comes through in big games, Maignan is undoubtedly one of the top keepers in the world.
Alphonse Areola (West Ham)
Alphonse Areola is an exceptional goalkeeper who is marvellously underrated. In 2023, Areola put up great post-shot expected goal stats than the vast majority of goalkeepers working in the top five leagues today. It’s also meant that David Moyes’ West Ham are far off relegation, in fact, closer to a place in European competitions.
Yann Sommer (Inter Milan)
Yann Sommer has been a highly-ranked keeper for a long time. But, in earnest, his big break came once Simone Inzaghi hand-picked him as a replacement for Andre Onana. It’s true that Inter can boast one of the best defensive lines in all of world football. This has helped Sommer. But registering by far the fewest goals in Serie A is no small feat.
Marco Bizot (Brest)
Marco Bizet is, at the time of writing, responsible for helping the best defence in Ligue 1. This has also brought Brest in reach of a Champions League place. Bizet’s stats are impeccable and might make famous keepers like Gianluigi Donnarumma question if they’ve been doing everything they can for their respective teams.
Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
Unai Simon is used to battling against the odds. This is how he became Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper with so many competitors to fight against. Simon also brought his best to Athletic Bilbao in 2023. He’s helped exceed xG conceded by 0.17 and has a save percentage of 72%.
David Raya (Arsenal)
David Raya was, technically, brought in merely as part of an arrangement where he would share goalkeeping duties with Aaron Ramsdale. But strong performances have made Raya the first choice. Arsenal have registered the best defensive record in the EPL for the past 12 months, and Raya is an important reason for this.
Alisson (Liverpool)
Alisson is one of Jurgen Klopp’s best Liverpool transfers, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. The Brazilian was the best keeper in 2023 when fit. Simply put, there is no goalie who has such a commanding presence between the sticks, and none who have the shot-stopping skills and passing ability that Alisson possesses.
