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Goalkeeping Statistics Table
We cover 14 cup competitions, 29 leagues and hundreds of shot-stoppers🃏. Our priority is to ensure you get all the information you need with ease; our buttons, dropdown menus, and search bar do just that to give you the best possible experience.
Match Stats
Goalkeeping Statistics
These are a specific yet useful set of stats𝓡 and can be used for a number of different markets. Our stats table provides a great range of data and everything you'll need to know about keepers.
In our main part of the table, you can see the amount of saves made by every goalie who played any number of games this season. The ‘Per 90' button will let you switch to see the average amount of saves made per game.
♎ Our saves-in-the-box data complements our total saves data, providing further details on a goalie's strengths and possible weaknesses. As a punter, you can take advantage of this information if you spot any opportunities.
🌠 The same can be said about penalty saves; some goalkeepers are just penalty specialists and could be a good pick to save a penalty if required. On the flip side, a goalkeeper with a terrible penalty record would be great to bet against.
🍃 The best way to get accurate data is to compare and contrast competitions, leagues and players, which can be done efficiently and effectively with the above table.
Goalkeeping Stats Explained
So you know that goalkeepers are the players with the gloves whose main goal is to stop the ball from entering their net🏅 by any means — be it with their hands, arms, legs or even face.
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The modern goalkeeper's job is much broader than in the past, and they've even become the first creative, offensive force♌, with ball-playing goalies becoming increasingly important in many teams across Europe.
💞 The stats will help you get a better feel for which goalkeepers are better at what, especially in terms of the number of saves from different areas and situations in a game.
꧑There is an important trade-off to keep in mind when trying to find value. Goalkeepers with worse teams face more shots and are likely to make more saves — even if they lose games often. Remember this when betting on clean sheets or on a particular team to win.
Betting Using Goalkeeper Statistics
Betting on these statistics is all about finding value in the various markets available. When we think of goalkeepers, we think of saves and clean sheets. These markets are available at many of the best UK bookmakers and are the easiest way to use the page.
If you want to go into more detail, you can find weaknesses in a keeper's game💟, such as a low number of saves from outside the box, which suggests that a player with a strong shot from range could score if given the chance.
ꦓ There are many ways to use the data we collect, and by being creative with it, you can ensure that your bets are based on facts rather than a gut feeling.
Ways To Use Goalkeeping Stats
🎶 As mentioned earlier, our goalie stats are some of the most comprehensive available, and with great depth comes great betting opportunity. Let's take a look at some of the best ways to use our keeper stats page.
Clean Sheets
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When goalkeepers make a lot of saves (especially per 90 minutes), this probably means two things: they’re brilliant shot-stoppers and they get shot at a lot, which is likely due to a leaky defence. To determine the value of saves stats, you have to balance the number of saves with the number of goals conceded. Clean sheet bettingﷺ is one of the more common types of goalkeeper bets and can be an excellent inclusion to a bet builder or acca.
Penalties
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There are two sides to a penalty: the taker and the keeper. Some goalkeepers eat penalties for breakfast and are able to quickly predict where a shot will go — possibly resulting in a save. If you bet on these specialists to save penalties, you can get fantastic odds, even if they’re known for their shot-saving abilities. Alternatively, you can bet against a keeper saving a penalty if they generally struggle in this situation. However, betting on penalties😼 is a bit risky as there is a chance that a penalty won’t even occur during a match
Scoreline / Both Teams To Score
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In this case, goalkeeping stats can be a great supporting act to some other stats, including clean sheets and goal scorer statistics. If a goalkeeper has particularly good save stats, you can expect a low scoreline. Should the opposite be true, you can see a high number of goals and perhaps even a clean sheet for the opponent. You can bet for or against both teams to score, depending on how good the keepers are.
There are countless goalscorer markets, and it is good to keep these statistics in mind. On our dedicated statistics homepage🥃, you will find all the stats you need to bet more effectively.
Goalkeeper Styles
ಞ Goalkeeping is truly an art form, and like art itself, there are many different forms and styles, with trends changing all the time. Some keepers perfect their style of play, becoming masters at their positions, and quite often influence the rest of the world.
Lev Yashin — No discussion of goalkeeping styles can be had without mentioning the Black Spider, Lev Yashin. Widely considered the greatest goalkeeper of all time and the only goalkeeper to win the Ballon d'Orﷺ. In the 1950s and 60s, he revolutionised the goalkeeper's position and introduced much of the athleticism, attacking mindset, and pure shot-blocking ability that we see in other goalkeepers today.
🐠 In the modern game, there are three main types of goalies: the shot-stoppers, ball-playing goalkeepers, and sweeper keepers. Let's dive in, shall we?
Shot-Stoppers
What is the main task of a goalkeeper? It's to keep the ball out of the back of the net🍸. These goalies are masters of the save; they often win points for their teams by keeping clean sheets and making seemingly impossible saves.
This is the more traditional form of goalkeeping, and many of the great keepers of the 80s and 90s employed this style. Even today, there are many top shot-stoppers who use this style today, two examples being David De Gea and Jan Oblakꦦ — outstanding keepers, but don't expect them to grab any assists.
Ball-Playing Goalkeepers
Considered to be the best style of play for goalkeepers right now, many of the best goalies in the world are current ball-playing keepers. Their primary focus is still to make saves, but these keepers have an eye for making a quick pass forward — creating a counter-attacking opportunity🥀, while also generally being comfortable on the ball.
These keepers need to be good with their feet and provide the defenders with options for a pass, and need to have good distribution themselves. There are tons of examples of this, including Ederson and Alisson in the Premier League, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and many more.
Sweeper Keepers
Johan Cruyff famously said, “In my teams, the goalie is the first attacker and the striker is the first defender”⛄. Sweeper keepers epitomise this, as they do their best to help in the attacking phase as well. It is one of the hardest styles of play to master and is an advanced version of ball playing.
They need to be comfortable leaving their penalty area to initiate an attack and get the team moving forward. Perhaps the best sweeper of all time and one of the best goalkeepers ever is Manuel Neuer, who paved the way for the advanced goalie. Other notable players are Edwin van der Sar and Lev Yashin.
Goalkeeper Records
𒆙 Goalkeepers are an integral part of football; some have even transcended their team to become true greats of the sport. Below you will find some of the records held by the best goalkeepers.
Clean Sheet Records
𒈔 For a goalkeeper, there is nothing more important than having a clean sheet. Here are the best goalkeepers in terms of clean sheets.
Most clean sheets of all time
| Player | Total Matches Played | Total Clean Sheets | Clean Sheet Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gianluigi Buffon | 970 | 504 | 52% |
| Edwin van der Sar | 820 | 440 | 53% |
| Iker Casillas | 911 | 440 | 48% |
| Petr Čech | 781 | 397 | 51% |
| Pepe Reina | 925 | 358 | 39% |
Most clean sheets in a single season — Top 5 leagues
| Competition | Player | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| La Liga | Paco Liaño | 26 |
| Premier League | Petr Čech | 24 |
| Serie A | Gianluigi Buffon | 21 |
| Ligue 1 | Salvatore Sirigu Mike Maignan Vincent Enyeama | 21 |
| Bundesliga | Manuel Neuer | 21 |
Saves Records
🎶 A brilliant save can be just as important as scoring a goal. Some may even feel as good as a goal — especially when it's a penalty or a last-minute save that keeps a team in the game. Let's take a look at the best goalkeepers in terms of the number of saves they make.
Most saves in the Premier League era
| Player | Total PL Saves | Penalty Saves |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Foster | 1,248 | 9 |
| David de Gea | 1,144 | 4 |
| Lukasz Fabianski | 1,116 | 11 |
| Petr Cech | 1,005 | 4 |
| Tim Howard | 992 | 7 |
🧸 *Disclaimer: these are the current records at time of writing and may be subject to change.
Most penalty saves of all time
| Player | Penalty saves |
|---|---|
| Samir Handanovic | 38 |
| Gianluigi Buffon | 30 |
| Diego Alves | 28 |
| Manuel Neuer | 25 |
| Petr Čech | 21 |
Goalscoring Keepers
꧋ Taking the sweeper-keeper role to new heights, the keepers on this list are mostly free-kick specialists or their club's penalty takers — a risky venture, but one that pays off in most cases. It is interesting to note that 10 of the top 15 goalscoring keepers are South American.
| Player | Nation | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Rogério Ceni | Brazil | 131 |
| José Luis Chilavert | Paraguay | 67 |
| Jorge Campos | Mexico | 46 |
| Johnny Vegas Fernández | Peru | 45 |
| René Higuita | Colombia | 43 |
Goalkeepers with hattricks🅠 — yup, that’s right — there are three goalkeepers who have scored hattricks in a competitive match. It’s a special achievement for a player, let alone a goalkeeper.
| Player | Season / Club | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Ilija Pantelić | 1963 / FK Vojvodina | 3 penalties |
| Tony Read | 1965 / Luton Town | Perfect hattrick |
| José Luis Chilavert | 1998 / Vélez Sársfield | 3 penalties |
World Cup Goalkeeper Records
𓃲 The greatest sports competition on Earth, legends are made at the World Cup, and this is true for goalkeepers as well. Below are some of the most notable records from the World Cup.
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Most World Cup clean sheets: 10🍷 — Peter Shilton (England), Fabien Barthez (France)
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The fewest goals were conceded at a World Cup: 0🅠 — Pascal Zuberbühler (Switzerland). They were eventually knocked out on penalties in the round of 16
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Most saves in a World Cup match: 16 — Tim Howard (USA)
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Most penalty shoot-out saves: 4♚ — Harald Schumacher (West Germany), Sergio Goycochea (Argentina), Danijel Subašić (Croatia), Dominik Livaković (Croatia)
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Golden Ball winner: Oliver Kahn (Germany, 2002)
Golden Glove Winners
| World Cup | Golden Glove Winner | Clean Sheets |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Michel Preud'homme (Belgium) | 2 |
| 1998 | Fabien Barthez (France) | 5 |
| 2002 | Oliver Kahn (Germany) | 5 |
| 2006 | Gianluigi Buffon (Italy) | 5 |
| 2010 | Iker Casillas (Spain) | 5 |
| 2014 | Manual Neuer (Germany) | 4 |
| 2018 | Thibaut Courtois (Belgium) | 3 |
| 2022 | Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) | 3 |
The History of Goalkeeping
⛄ Football has changed drastically since its beginnings. New rules, restrictions, and standardisation have been constantly introduced to make the sport what it is today. No position, however, has undergone as many changes as that of goalkeeper.
The early days…
🦄 Any player could catch the ball. You read that right! Stemming from its roots in rugby, any player could catch the ball, but they couldn't run with it. In the 1860s, the goalkeeper was finally introduced, who could catch the ball from anywhere on the pitch. This was eventually reduced to one half of the field and in 1912, to a specific square — the 18-yard box.
Rule changes since 1912
ღ With a lot of the major stuff out of the way, the various football associations were able to fine-tune the position and make it what it is today. A major change occurred in the 1930s, when a goalkeeper died after being seriously injured by kicks from opposing players. Players were no longer allowed to lift their feet against goalkeepers. In 1931, goalkeepers were only allowed to take four steps in the penalty area to avoid wasting time. This rule is still, more or less, in force today, and not much changed for another 70 years.
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Fun Fact: Gloves weren't worn for the first 80 years of football, and it wasn't until Amadeo Carrizo of River Plate pioneered them in the 1940s that goalkeeping attire was changed forever.
The 1990s onwards
Oh, the nineties! The kits were majestic, the football was brilliant, and arguably the most famous ponytail of all time was in its prime. The year is 1992, and two years after the Italia 90′ World Cup, the Danes achieved one of football's greatest miracles.Denmark hadn't even qualified for the 1992 European Championship but was given a spot after Yugoslavia was forced to withdraw. They went on to win the whole tournament, mainly by wasting time passing the ball back to the goalkeeper for him to pick up. The time-wasting was so blatant that FIFA introduced the back-pass rule, which meant goalkeepers weren't allowed to pick up the ball after it had been passed to them by their own team.Five years later, the rule was extended to include the six-second rule, which states that an indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than six seconds. Nowadays, this rule still exists, but isn't really enforced so stringently.
The Best Goalkeepers Right Now
We've looked at the history of the position and some of the best players who have made the penalty area their fortress, but goalkeeping is currently enjoying a bit of a renaissance, with many top-class goalkeepers playing on the biggest stage. Here are some of the best current goalkeepers.
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Thibaut Courtois — Sensational at Chelsea, there were some doubts about Courtois following a poor start at Real Madrid. Now, he is widely considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He was voted man of the match for his heroics in the 2022 Champions League final and got hold of old big ears herself. This season, Courtois has made 125 saves, keeping 17 clean sheets in all competitions.
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Marc-André ter Stegen — What a season for ter Stegen: Barcelona are finally back at the top of the La Liga table, and much of that success is thanks to the man between the sticks himself. He has played every minute this season, keeping 25 clean sheets in 34 games. Even more impressive is the fact that he has only conceded 13 goals. Incredible!
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Mike Maignan — Maignan is one of the key players keeping AC Milan competitive and, most importantly, in the semi-finals of the Champions League. After an injury kept him out for the first half of the season, he has come back and is playing some stellar football, keeping seven clean sheets in 19 games and conceding 19 goals in Serie A.
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Nick Pope — Newcastle have changed since the takeover and Eddie Howe was appointed. Nick Pope has proved to be a great signing, is a solid goalkeeper in the box and a tremendous addition to the whole squad. Newcastle have conceded the fewest goals in the league all season (27) and have kept a clean sheet on 13 occasions so far, making 81 saves🔴. Nick Pope has been at the heart of Newcastle's (so far) successful push for a spot in the Champions League.
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Ederson — One of the best sweeper keepers right now, Ederson has continued to push the boundaries of goalkeeping as Man City manager Pep Guardiola continue experimenting with various formations. He has kept a clean sheet 10 times🐠 in the Premier League in the 2022/23 season and even contributed in attack with an assist against Brighton. Ederson is an integral part of the squad and is likely to continue to be considered one of the best goalkeepers in years to come.
Goalkeeping stats FAQs
🔯Our goalkeeping stats are mainly related to saves of some kind. We offer stats and data from 14 cup competitions and 29 leagues relating to the main duties of a goalkeeper.
🃏Bets relating to the performance of goalkeepers are relatively common, and the statistics will give you a clear picture when betting. Some examples of betting markets that relate to goalies are saves, penalties, clean sheets and much more. We also recommend you use our other stats pages to get a more comprehensive picture.
𝓡This is a tough question, but our money is on Lev Yashin. No other goalkeeper has ever influenced the game like he has, and no other keeper has been awarded a Ballon d'Or. Gianluigi Buffon also certainly deserves an honourable mention.
൲It depends on what qualities you value most in a goalkeeper. The best keepers in the world right now are Marc-André ter Stegen, Ederson, and Thibaut Courtois.
ThePuntersPage Final Say
😼 Goalkeeping stats are a great addition to a punter's toolbox as they are a versatile set of data. Our stats page summarises the most important aspects of a goalkeeper's game, ensuring you have all the information you need to make well-informed bets.
🐼 Remember, however, the best way to find value is to do thorough research. Check out our other stats pages for a complete overview of what's going on in the sport.
Refences
Sharma, D. (2022) FIFA World Cup records held by goalkeepers, Sports Big News൲. Available at: //www.sportsbignews.com/football/fifa-world-cup-records-held-by-goalkeepers/ (Accessed: 2023).
Tinashe, C. (2020) What are the different types of goalkeepers in football?, Football Iconic🍸. Available at: //footballiconic.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-goalkeepers-in-football/.
Premier League player stats – clean sheets (no date) Premier League Player Stats – Clean sheets🍸. Available at: //www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/clean_sheet?co=1%3Fpo&se=-1&cl=-1&iso=-1&po=GOALKEEPER.
Premier League player stats – saves (no date) Premier League Player Stats – Saves𝔉. Available at: //www.premierleague.com/stats/top/players/saves.