April 10 – Paris Saint-Germain and Italy star Gianluigi Donnarumma has been named the top-performing goalkeeper in world football over the past year, according to new research from the CIES Football Observatory.
Donnarumma topped the rankings, which analysed 100 of the best goalkeepers globally using a bespoke performance index on a 100-point scale. The 26-year-old leads a top three that also includes Inter Milan’s Swiss international Yann Sommer and Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois.
The CIES ranking considers both individual performances and team outcomes, adjusted for expected goals data. Donnarumma’s consistent excellence between the posts has been a cornerstone of PSG’s domestic dominance this season and underlines his credentials as one of the most complete modern keepers. Also a penalty specialist, it was his heroics that held off Liverpool in the Champions League round of 16.
Sommer, who joined Inter from Bayern Munich in 2023, has since impressed in Serie A with his calm presence and sharp reflexes despite turning 36 last year, while Real Madrid’s Courtois is unsurprisingly also featured among the elite.
Notably, the top 10 features two standout names from outside the traditional big-five European leagues: 23-year-old Stanislav Agkatsev of FK Krasnodar and 35-year-old João Ricardo of Brazil’s Fortaleza EC. Both exceeded expectations based on the goals their teams conceded compared to expected goals faced, making them the most overperforming shot-stoppers in the ranking.
The top 100 list also reflects the longevity of elite goalkeepers, with the average age sitting at 29.9. The oldest player in the ranking is 41-year-old Remko Pasveer of Ajax, while the youngest are Ármin Pécsi (20.1, Puskás Akadémia) and Slawomir Abramowicz (20.8, Jagiellonia Białystok).
Agkatsev is one of only two goalkeepers under the age of 26 to crack the top 20. The other is Djordje Petrović of RC Strasbourg, currently on loan from Chelsea, who continues to build his reputation in Ligue 1.
A big shock comes as Chelsea’s out-of-form goalkeeper Robert Sanchez comes in sixth in the ranking, despite a plethora of howlers throughout the season so far. His 84.1 score ranks him significantly higher than Liverpool’s Alisson Becker (75.1).
The CIES Football Observatory’s index, enhanced by Wyscout data, provides a unique snapshot of goalkeeping performance beyond just clean sheets and highlight saves, giving deeper insight into who is truly making the difference in goal around the world.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1744960981labto1744960981ofdlr1744960981owedi1744960981sni@g1744960981niwe.1744960981yrrah1744960981