In brief
It takes skill, talent, and an unmatched drive to be the greatest to succeed in the Champions League.
In Europe’s top league, legendary goalkeepers like Edwin van der Sar, Manuel Neuer, and Iker Casillas have left a lasting impression.
The best 10 goalkeepers in Champions League history are determined by factors like as longevity, success, total clean sheets, and memorable moments.
Many people never get the chance to play in the Champions League, the highest level of club football. Some people make it seem easy, but it’s definitely not easy to reach the top without skill, hard effort, and an unwavering drive to be the best. The best players that have established an outstanding career at Europe’s top table include Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Paolo Maldini; their success may be ascribed to their win-at-all-costs mentality.
Goalkeepers are subject to the same idea. Because “the art of goalscoring” is still seen as the most difficult skill to perfect in football, goalkeepers are frequently overlooked while being an undervalued member of a Champions League-winning squad.
However, that hasn’t stopped certain players from becoming gaming icons. Consider former Manchester United star Edwin van der Sar, Oliver Kahn and Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich, but who is the greatest goalie in Champions League history? The top ten goalkeepers to ever play in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Ranking factors
- Total clean sheets
- Longevity
- Success
- Notable Champions League moments
1Manuel Neuer
Schalke and Bayern Munich
Manuel Neuer, a legend of Germany and Bayern Munich, is ranked quite high on our ranking. Although his primary body of work has been with the Bavarians, the Gelsenkirchen-born star had his first taste of Champions League action with Schalke during his formative years.
The now 38-year-old is a seasoned player who has won two Champions League titles along the way. He is tall, calm, and an excellent goalie. Bayern, the highest-paid custodian in the world of football, will have a difficult time replacing the seasoned German, especially since he just broke Iker Casillas’ record of the most clean sheets at the top table in Europe (62).
Champions League Statistics for Manuel Neuer
Clubs
Bayern Munich and Schalke
Champions League victories
2 (12/13, 19/20)
Games
150
Goals given up
138
Sheets of cleanliness
62
Goals given up in each match
0.92
2Iker Casillas
Real Madrid and Porto
Speaking of Casillas, the Spaniard has secured a silver medal in the rankings thanks to his four Champions League medals. We’re here to highlight his continental exploits, even if he is one of the greatest World Cup-winning captains of all time. The Spaniard has a wealth of experience in the biggest club competition in football.
The Real Madrid cult hero made 177 appearances, giving up 203 goals (about 1.15 goals per game) while keeping 57 clean sheets. His longevity and pedigree make him one of the strongest numbers on this list. Over the years, Los Blancos have been fortunate to have a number of outstanding goalkeepers, but none have been able to surpass the La Fabrica graduate’s overall impact.
Champions League Statistics for Iker Casillas
Clubs
Porto and Real Madrid
Champions League victories
4 (99/00, 01/02, 13/14) 97/98
Games
177
Goals given up
203
Sheets of cleanliness
57
Goals given up in each match
1.15
3Edwin van der Sar
Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United
Edwin van der Sar was certain to make the list—and, in this instance, the podium—because he had played for three of Europe’s biggest teams: Manchester United, Juventus, and Ajax. The gangly goalie had a more-than-impressive goals conceded per game ratio of just 0.81 and had won gold twice, in 94/95 with Ajax and 07/08 for Manchester United.
The imposing Dutchman, who was 40 years old at the time, was in goal for the Red Devils against Barcelona in their 2009 final, and even though they lost, he made eight saves to stand out. Van der Sar was a beloved character at whichever team he played for, and that makes sense given that he was a formidable opponent on the grandest stage in club football.
Edwin Van der Sar: Statistics for the Champions League
Clubs
Juventus, Manchester United, and Ajax
Champions League victories
2 (94/95, 07/08)
Games
98
Goals given up
79
Sheets of cleanliness
51
Goals given up in each match
0.81
4Petr Cech
Sparta Prague, Chelsea and Arsenal
Another goalie who had a talent for dazzling on the biggest European stage was Petr Cech, who is regarded as one of the Premier League’s greatest foreign players ever. The 124-cap Czech international hung up his boots in 2019 after making the contentious move from Chelsea to Arsenal, but he will always be regarded as one of the greatest of his time.
His performance in the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern, where he saved two penalty penalties and led the west Londoners to their first-ever Champions League victory, was arguably his most memorable moment wearing a Chelsea shirt. In addition, he saved Arjen Robben’s attempt from 12 yards out earlier in the game, as the seasoned goalie frequently did.
Champions League Statistics for Petr Cech
Clubs
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Sparta Prague
Champions League victories
1 (11/12)
Games
111
Goals given up
103
Sheets of cleanliness
49
Goals given up in each match
0.93
5Gianluigi Buffon
Parma, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain
Due to his durability and ability to preserve a clean sheet (53 in 124 appearances), Gianluigi Buffon, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest players to never win the Champions League, is ranked fourth on the list. Nevertheless, he won numerous Serie A titles with Juventus and was hardly a failure at the club level.
The legendary Italian played the majority of his career in Italy with Juventus, where he joined legends like Lev Yashin and Neuer as one of the greatest goalkeepers in history. He will undoubtedly be upset by not receiving the big-eared trophy, but that doesn’t take away from how excellent he was in goal over his 28-year career.
Statistics for Gianluigi Buffon in the Champions League
Clubs
Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Parma
Champions League victories
0
Games
124
Goals given up
118
Sheets of cleanliness
53
Goals given up in each match
0.95
6Victor Valdes
Barcelona
Victor Valdes’ career is somewhat tarnished by his arduous two-game stint with Manchester United at Old Trafford, but his reputation as one of the greatest goalkeepers in Champions League history cannot be disregarded, particularly given his remarkable success with Spanish powerhouse Barcelona during his 12-year tenure.
The former Blaugrana star actually added three Champions League titles to his resume during the six-year span from 2005 to 2011 while maintaining 45 clean sheets in 106 games, with a goals against per game ratio of 0.84. The now 43-year-old was a great shot-stopper, vivacious, and authoritative, but he was unfortunate not to have made more than 20 appearances for the Spanish national team.
Champions League Statistics for Victor Valdes
Clubs
Barcelona
Champions League victories
3 (May 6, August 9, October 11)
Games
106
Goals given up
89
Sheets of cleanliness
45
Goals given up in each match
0.84
7Keylor Navas
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain
Keylor Navas, who played in goal for Real Madrid during their legendary three-peat from 15/16 to 17/18, was just as important even if players like Ronaldo and Karim Benzema were given more credit. At the height of European football, the 38-year-old has played in 63 games and given up 61 goals, making him a genuinely underappreciated player over the years.
With genuinely amazing back-to-back performances against Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Navas’ Champions League campaign in 2021 was an impressive sight, even for Paris Saint-Germain. He displayed extraordinary bravery in the battle against the latter, securing passage with a stunning ten-save display.
Keylor Navas: Statistics for the Champions League
Clubs
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
Champions League victories
3, 15, 16, 17, and 18
Games
63
Goals given up
61
Sheets of cleanliness
22
Goals given up in each match
0.96
8Oliver Kahn
Bayern Munich
Oliver Kahn, a former Bayern star, comes to mind when you picture a man-mountain goalie who can demand his box like it was going out of style. Unusually, the German only won the trophy once (in 00/01), but he had a near-miss two years before when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gave Manchester United the victory at the last second.
However, he has scored 104 goals in 103 European top-tier games, which makes his goals conceded per game ratio (1.01) remarkable. Although he and his fellow Bayern teammates found it difficult to replicate Kahn’s win-at-all-costs mentality on the European scene, don’t let that take away from what a deadly player he was in the goalmouth.
Statistics for the Champions League by Oliver Kahn
Clubs
The Bayern Munich
Champions League victories
1 (00/01)
Games
103
Goals given up
104
Sheets of cleanliness
33
Goals given up in each match
1.01
9Dida
AC Milan
Dida had the honour of playing for AC Milan against some of the most prestigious teams in the Champions League, and he won the trophy twice during his remarkable career (on February 3, 2003, and on June 7, 2007). The 93-cap Brazilian was a quiet, composed player in goal who was quietly excellent.
Despite playing only 72 games in the Champions League, he maintained 35 clean sheets while displaying a less than stellar goals against per game ratio of 0.78, which was the best among the top 10. Dida may not have been as traditional as his managers would have preferred, but who are we to argue with after 302 games for the Rossoneri?
Dida: Statistics for the Champions League
Clubs
Milan AC
Champions League victories
2 (02/03, 06/07)
Games
72
Goals given up
56
Sheets of cleanliness
35
Goals given up in each match
0.78
10Thibaut Courtois
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid
Even though Thibaut Courtois has played for Chelsea and the Madrid duo Atletico and Real, he has only won two Champions League titles thus far. The 6′ 7″ goalie, who is among the tallest players in Premier League history, has played 85 games in the tournament, just 100 fewer than Casillas. During that time, he has given up 100 goals and kept 30 clean sheets.
His impressive performances, such his victory over Liverpool in the 2022 Champions League final, earn him a place on this list even though his return may not be the finest when compared to some of the others. The 32-year-old Belgian star still has many years to go, and since he plays for one of the most prominent teams on the continent, it seems certain that he will add more Champions League titles to his collection.
Statistics for Thibaut Courtois in the Champions League
Clubs
Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid
Champions League victories
2 (21/22, 23/24)
Games
85
Goals given up
One hundred
Sheets of cleanliness
30
Goals given up in each match
1.18
11Alisson Becker
AS Roma and Liverpool
Alisson Becker’s absence is unthinkable for Liverpool supporters. The Reds goalie, who was seen while playing for AS Roma, has unquestionably been among the best in the world ever since he moved, as evidenced by his several European performances. He has really preserved 27 clean sheets in 63 games so far.
Although it may come as a surprise that Alisson, who is frequently hailed for his natural ability to stop shots, has only lifted the Champions League trophy once, his nine saves against Paris Saint-Germain in 2024–2025 may lead his team to yet another European triumph. His significance on the continental grandstand cannot be overstated, but only time will tell.
Champions League Statistics for Alisson Becker
Clubs
Liverpool and AS Roma
Champions League victories
1 (18/19)
Games
63
Goals given up
68
Sheets of cleanliness
27
Goals given up in each match
1.08
All figures are accurate as of 06/03/25 according to Transfermarkt and the Champions League.
The Ranking of the Top 11 Goalkeepers in Champions League History
Rank
The player
Clubs
Champions League victories
1.
Neuer, Manuel
Bayern Munich and Schalke 2 (12/13, 19/20)
2.
Casillas Iker
Porto and Real Madrid
4 (99/00, 01/02, 13/14) 97/98
3.
Van der Sar, Edwin
Juventus, Manchester United, and Ajax
2 (94/95, 07/08)
4.
Petr Cech
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Sparta Prague
1 (11/12)
5.
Buffon, Gianluigi
Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, and Parma
0
6.
Valdes Victor
Barcelona
3 (May 6, August 9, October 11)
7.
Navas Keylor
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid
3, 15, 16, 17, and 18
8.
Kahn, Oliver
The Bayern Munich
1 (00/01)
9.
Dida
Milan AC
2 (02/03, 06/07)
10.
Courtois, Thibaut
Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Atletico Madrid
2 (21/22, 23/24)
11.
Becker, Alisson
Liverpool and AS Roma
1 (18/19)
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