As women’s soccer continues to grow in leaps and bounds, female goalkeepers have become increasingly skilled, thanks to special training programs.
In the ever-evolving world of soccer, being a goalkeeper is no longer just about stopping balls from hitting the back of the net. Nowadays, goalies are expected to do it all – start the play, initiate attacks, and serve as the last line of defense.
They say a solid keeper can make or break a team’s season, and we couldn’t agree more.
That’s why we’ve scoured everywhere to bring you the cream of the crop – the female goalkeepers who possess the skills and make incredible saves to make a difference in every game.
We’ve done our homework and analyzed every aspect of their game – from the numbers on the stat sheet to their ability to shine under pressure.
- Best Female Goalkeepers In The World
- Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (France,Juventus)
- Sandra Paños García-Villamil (Spain, Barcelona)
- Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
- Adrianna Franch (USA, Kansas City)
- Ellie Roebuck (England, Man City)
- Kailen Sheridan (Canada, San Diego Waves)
- Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal, Austria)
- Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Chelsea)
- Almuth Schult (Germany, Angel City FC)
- Christiane Endler (Chile,Lyon)
- Merle Frohms (Germany, Wolfburg)
- Mary Earps (England, Man Utd)
Best Female Goalkeepers In The World
The goalkeeping position is a make-it-or-break-it role on any soccer team. Without a skilled netminder, it’s game over.
And female goalkeepers are absolutely killing it on the pitch. They’ve proven time and time again that they’ve got what it takes to make jaw-dropping saves and captain their teams to glory.
Whether it’s blocking penalty kicks or snagging crosses out of the air, these women are showing the world that gender has no place on the soccer field.
So let’s give these 10 female goalkeepers the respect they deserve.
Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (France,Juventus)
31-year-old Pauline Peyraud-Magnin is a force to be reckoned with on the pitch.
She boasts of an impressive career, having played for renowned football clubs such as Lyon, Marseille, Arsenal, and Atlético Madrid. Her latest move has taken her to Turin with Juventus, where she continues to make waves in the beautiful game.
Last year, Peyraud-Magnin played a pivotal role in Juventus’ success in the UEFA Women’s Champions League group stages. With her exceptional skills, she kept the joint-most clean sheets in the tournament and commanded the team like a true leader.
Despite the controversy surrounding the French coach and veteran goalie Sarah Bouhaddi, Peyraud-Magnin seized her opportunity to start every single one of France’s Euro 2022 matches.
Proving her worth as a top-tier goalkeeper, where she made history by helping them reach the semi-finals for the first time in any competition.
Even this season, Peyraud-Magnin continues to shine for both her club and country. Her exceptional performance on the field has made her a record-breaker and a force to be reckoned with.
Next time someone questions the excitement of women’s soccer, remind them of Pauline Peyraud-Magnin’s incredible achievements.
Her fierce competitiveness and unwavering determination are a testament to the thrilling and impressive nature of the women’s game, on par with its male counterpart.
Sandra Paños García-Villamil (Spain, Barcelona)
Sandra Paños Garcia-Villamil, the goalkeeper extraordinaire for Barcelona, made it into our list of best female goalkeepers thanks to her exceptional performances in the unbeaten La Liga season.
Throughout her time at Barcelona, Paños has achieved numerous accolades, including two league titles, three Copas de la Reina, and the UEFA Women’s Champions League, which was secured during Barcelona’s first continental treble in the 2020-21 season, making it the first continental treble for Barcelona.
Paños has also represented Spain at three major international tournaments, showing that she’s not just a big shot in the world of soccer.
What really sets her apart is her ability to keep the ball out of the net, having won a record-breaking four Zamora Trophies for conceding the least amount of goals in a Primera Division season. It’s no wonder they call her the “Queen of the Clean Sheet”.
When she’s in between the sticks, other teams might as well just stay in the locker room. Paños is well-known for her exceptional reflexes and ability to make crucial saves, which have helped her team secure several important victories.
Alyssa Naeher (USA, Chicago Red Stars)
Alyssa Naeher, the fabulous goalkeeper for the US women’s soccer team, has had a career that can only be described as impressive.
She was part of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup team and even took over the starting goalkeeper position for the US in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Naeher has played for the Boston Breakers and Turbine Potsdam, where she picked up the prestigious 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.
She kicked off the 2016 NWSL season with a bang, nabbing the Player of the Month title for May and posting an impressive three shutouts while only allowing one goal in four games.
Her skills were recognized by the NWSL Media Association, who named her Player of the Week in week 6 of the 2018 season, and she also made it to the Team of the Month in June of the same year.
Despite being a seasoned 35-year-old player, Naeher is still on track to participate in her third consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cup with the upcoming Australia/New Zealand edition in 2023.
She’s expected to be the team’s number one goalkeeper and has the potential to add to her already long list of accomplishments with the US national women’s soccer team.
Known for her vocal leadership and her ability to expertly direct her defense, Naeher ensures that her team is always in the right position to defend against their opponents.
It’s no wonder she’s become a true icon in the world of women’s soccer
Adrianna Franch (USA, Kansas City)
Adrianna Franch has established herself as one of the most talented female goalkeepers in the United States, having won the NWSL Best Goalkeeper award twice in both 2017 and 2018.
Despite facing tough competition from the likes of Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher in the stacked United States goalkeeper department, Franch has managed to stand out with her exceptional skills.
She’s so good that she could catch a cold if it flew toward her goalpost!
The 32-year-old possesses impressive aerial abilities, coupled with her remarkable positioning and reflexes, which make her one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Last season Franch made a total of 65 saves, placing her in the third position in the league.
Notably, her outstanding performance in the NWSL semi-final match against OL Reign was instrumental in helping Kansas City Current advance to their first-ever NWSL Playoff Final, where they emerged victorious over the previous NWSL Shield winners.
Despite playing for Kansas City outside Europe, Franch’s abilities have not gone unnoticed, with the National Women’s Soccer League being regarded as one of the best women’s football leagues.
Franch’s athleticism is highly impressive, with exceptional agility, quick reflexes, and excellent footwork, making her a formidable presence in goal.
Ellie Roebuck (England, Man City)
She is an exceptional female goalkeeper who is set to take the world of women’s football by storm in the coming years.
At just 23 years old, she has already made her mark by winning numerous titles with her club. She’s so good that she’d stop goals in her sleep.
Roebuck’s talent was evident from a young age, as she made her league debut at only 17 years old. Since then, she has continued to impress, winning one WSL title, three women’s FA Cups, and three League Cups.
Although she faced some setbacks due to injury, Roebuck bounced back with a vengeance.
In fact, she played like a woman possessed, recording the highest saves percentage (83.3%) and conceding only three goals in ten games as Manchester City secured their spot in the final of the UWCL.
Roebuck’s skills are not limited to her shot-stopping abilities; she is also an excellent distributor of the ball.
With her ability to quickly and accurately distribute the ball to her teammates, she is a valuable asset to any team she plays for.
Ellie is a goalkeeper who is destined for greatness, and we can’t wait to see what she achieves in the years to come.
Kailen Sheridan (Canada, San Diego Waves)
If there’s one name that’s been on everyone’s lips in the NWSL lately, it’s Kailen Sheridan.
This Canadian goalkeeper has been an absolute force to be reckoned with, making her mark on the newly-formed San Diego Wave in a big way.
Sheridan played a huge role in helping the San Diego Waves become the first-ever expansion team to reach the NWSL playoffs.
With only 17 goals conceded in the entire season, she proved to be an impenetrable barrier between the sticks and was rightfully named Goalkeeper of the Season.
She has also been making waves on the international stage. Following in the footsteps of Stephanie Labbe, she took the No.1 shirt for the Canadian senior women’s national team and didn’t disappoint.
In the 2022 Women’s CONCACAF Championship, she only let in one goal throughout the entire tournament and earned herself the Golden Glove award.
At just 27 years old, Sheridan has already proven herself to be one of the best goalkeepers in the game.
Her positioning, reflexes, and shot-stopping abilities are second to none, and it’s clear that she’s only going to get better with time.
Manuela Zinsberger (Arsenal, Austria)
Manuela Zinsberger, the 27-year-old Austrian goalkeeper for Arsenal, is proving to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of women’s football.
With each passing year, she just keeps getting better and better.
Last season, Zinsberger had arguably her best professional season yet, helping Arsenal secure second place in the WSL, just one point behind winners Chelsea.
She won the coveted Golden Glove award, having kept an impressive 13 clean sheets in a 22-game season with an unprecedented 80.3% saves percentage, a record for any keeper in a single season.
This season, Zinsberger has continued her stellar form, already breaking the record for most consecutive clean sheets with 10 to her name.
She has six clean sheets in nine league games and two from four in the UWCL, maintaining an impressive 82.2% saves percentage across all competitions.
With her unwavering focus and incredible skills, it’s no surprise Zinsberger is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about female goalkeepers in soccer.
Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany, Chelsea)
Ann-Katrin Berger’s goalkeeping prowess was on full display during Chelsea’s successful WSL title defense in the 2020/21 season.
As the first-choice goalkeeper for the Blues, the 32-year-old German international conceded a mere eight goals in 14 league appearances, earning the accolade for the fewest goals allowed by a goalkeeper who played more than 50% of the available minutes.
Berger also played a crucial role in Chelsea’s FA Cup triumphs, cementing her reputation as one of the world’s best shot-stoppers.
In recognition of her outstanding performances, she received her first-ever call-up to the German national team for Euro 2022.
Despite being diagnosed with a recurrence of thyroid cancer in August, Berger quickly underwent treatment and made a swift return to Chelsea’s starting line-up in September.
Her remarkable resilience and determination inspired her teammates as they went on to win their third consecutive WSL title.
In addition to her impressive shot-stopping ability, Berger is also comfortable with the ball at her feet and has a keen eye for initiating attacks with her distribution.
She is a truly exceptional female goalkeeper who has proven time and again that she is among the best in the world.
Almuth Schult (Germany, Angel City FC)
The 32-year-old is a goalkeeper who has cemented her place as one of the all-time greats of women’s football.
Her achievements include being named the IFFHS Women’s Goalkeeper of the Decade for the 2010s, and winning almost every competition possible for club and country.
In 2019, Schult put her career on hold to become the only mother in the Frauen-Bundesliga. Despite spending the next couple of seasons on the bench, she returned with a bang in the last season of her nine-year spell at VfL Wolfsburg.
Schult played a pivotal role in Wolfsburg winning their fourth Frauen-Bundesliga title and reaching the semi-finals of the UWCL.
Despite not being the most popular goalkeeper in women’s football, Schult’s achievements speak for themselves.
Her shot-stopping abilities are second to none, and she has been known to come up with some incredible saves at crucial moments.
Schult has now signed for the newly-formed club Angel City in the US, and fans can expect her to continue to dominate between the sticks.
Christiane Endler (Chile,Lyon)
When it comes to great goalkeepers, Christiane Endler sets the bar high with her ability to make jaw-dropping saves that leave you wondering how on earth she managed it.
Her incredible shot-stopping ability, combined with her lightning-fast footwork and reflexes, allows her to make saves that should be impossible.
Endler joined Lyon from Paris Saint-Germain last season and immediately proved her worth, keeping the most clean sheets in the league as Lyon won yet another Division 1 title.
She was equally crucial in Lyon’s Champions League run, making pivotal saves in the second leg of the semi-finals against PSG, which helped her team advance to the final.
Despite winning the final against Barcelona, Endler had little to do during the match. However, she hasn’t had the best start to the 2022/23 season, conceding five goals against Arsenal at home in the Champions League group stages.
Nonetheless, her skills as a goalkeeper are undeniable, with Chelsea manager Emma Hayes previously stating that Endler is one of the best in the world.
It’s no surprise that she was signed as a 22-year-old by Hayes herself, and with her incredible talent, it’s a no-brainer how she has already achieved so much in her career.
Merle Frohms (Germany, Wolfburg)
Frohms is a rising star among Germany’s talented goalkeepers. At just 27 years old, she has already made her mark on the Frauen-Bundesliga and the international stage.
Frohms has been compared to Marc-André ter Stegen for her fearless approach to goalkeeping and her ability to take her chance when it comes. She proved this in 2022 when she found herself on the biggest stage of her career.
After helping Eintracht Frankfurt finish third in the Frauen-Bundesliga and qualify for the Champions League, Frohms played a key role in Germany’s Euro 2022 campaign.
She kept an impressive four clean sheets as Germany’s No. 1, tying for the highest number of clean sheets in the tournament with England’s Mary Earps.
Although Germany lost narrowly to England in the final, Frohms’ performances earned her widespread praise.
In the league, Frohms was a standout performer, keeping ten clean sheets in her 22 games. Her performances helped Wolfsburg win the Women’s Bundesliga title.
Frohms’ goalkeeping skills extend beyond shot-stopping. She is one of the best female goalkeepers when it comes to playing with her feet.
Merle FrohmsHer rise to the top of German women’s football has been steady, having progressed through the national youth teams to the senior team.
She has firmly established herself as one of the best goalkeepers in women’s soccer.
Mary Earps (England, Man Utd)
Mary Earps is an excellent example of a goalkeeper seizing her opportunity and taking it to the next level. Despite finishing fourth in the WSL last season with Manchester United.
The 29-year-old goalkeeper proved her worth after Ellie Roebuck’s injury allowed her to start in goal for Sarina Wiegman’s first game in charge of England.
Since then, Earps has been on an unstoppable rise, starting in all six games for England at Euro 2022 and conceding just two goals throughout the entire tournament.
She was instrumental in helping England clinch the championship, beating Germany 2-1 in the final and earning a well-deserved spot in the 2022 Euro Team of the Tournament.
Earps’ performance at the Euros was exceptional, cementing her reputation as one of the world’s top female goalkeepers. At 29 years old, she still has a lot to offer England, especially with the World Cup coming up in 2023.
On February 27, 2023, in Paris, Earps received the FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper award for her significant contribution to The Lionesses’ victory in Euro 2022 and United’s WSL title pursuit.
What sets Earps apart is her skill as a goalkeeper. She is agile and quick, with excellent command of her box, and is capable of making incredible saves.
