Euro 2024 will host a lot of star attackers this time, most of the teams’ squads consist of experienced and young prolific forwards. In order to stop them during the tournament, there are also great goalkeepers in each contingent. After saving their respective teams at the club level, these best goalkeepers will now be going into the UEFA Euro 2024 to show their worth.
The summer tournament in Germany will be the perfect training ground for these top goalkeepers to shine before the new club season begins. Goalkeepers are the “last line of defense” in football. In this article, we’ll discuss the top goalkeepers going into the Euro 2024 who might impact the tournament more than others standing between the sticks.
Top Goalkeepers Going into Euro 2024
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy)
The 25-year-old goalkeeper is already an Italian legend. Italy is the defending champion of the UEFA Euro, thanks to this man’s heroic performances in the last edition of the tournament held in 2020. He had a dazzling career at AC Milan (216 appearances) in Serie A before leaving for PSG. The tall goalie is the perfect successor to the legend Gigi Buffon in the Italian camp. Gianluigi Donnarumma kept 11 clean sheets in 25 Ligue 1 appearances this season. He should be at his very best to help Italy defend the Euro title.
Manuel Neuer (Germany)
Many believe the UEFA Euro 2024 is going to be the last major international tournament for Manuel Neuer. The Bayern Munich player can arguably be ranked as the best German goalkeeper, even ahead of Oliver Kahn. Simply put, he is aging like a fine wine. The 38-year-old professional has played 118 official games for Germany, lifting the 2014 FIFA World Cup title in the process. After missing a long period of time due to injury, he returned to action last year, and allowed only 33 goals in 23 games, while recording 7 clean sheets. His leadership quality will be crucial for the progress of Julian Nagelsmaan’s side at home.
Diogo Costa (Portugal)
Diogo Costa is one of the best goalkeepers going into the UEFA Euro 2024. Since making his World Cup debut in Qatar at the age of 23, he has established himself as one of the most promising players in Europe. Despite making some errors initially, he climbed up the progress chart gradually. The No. 1 goalie of Porto has been so impressive for the last two seasons, that he has dethroned the ever-green Rui Patricio, who performed like a wall between the sticks in Portugal’s Euro 2016 victory. Cristiano Ronaldo’s bid for the UEFA Euro 2024 trophy will depend on Cdepende extent, and the 24-year-old has everything in him to be a hero.
Jordan Pickford (England)
Jordan Pickford was the mainstay for England in their last three major football competitions. And now, due to the shoulder injury of an in-form Nick Pope, Pickford is once again the frontrunner to stand in front of the goal. The Everton goalkeeper has enough experience and patience to dictate the terms of the play during the Euro. Not only is he one of the best goalkeepers in the Euro 2024, but also is one of the important figures in Gareth Southgate’s team.
Andriy Lunin (Ukraine)
The Real Madrid 2nd choice goalkeeper has exploded into the best-ranked goalkeeper going into the UEFA Euro 2024 due to his stellar performances at the club level. In the absence of Thibaut Courtois, the Ukrainian bailed Carlo Ancelotti out of a lot of difficult situations this season. Lunin is most probably the best of the lot. He kept 10 clean sheets in 21 games while allowing just 17 goals.
This number is like a dream for any young goalkeeper. Lunin’s performance against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium in the Champions League was an unforgettable one where he made more than 12 saves in 120 minutes. Lunin’s presence between the sticks will definitely help Ukrainian defenders find a rhythm.
Unai Sn (Spain)
The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper is one of the most in-form and best goalkeepers in the UEFA Euro 2024 starting in Germany. His performance in La Liga has been out of the world this season. 18 clean sheets, 33 goals conceded in 36 games—this has been the summary of Unai Simon’s 2023-2024 La Liga season. The 26-year-old keeper has already received praise from Iker Casillas for his tremendous run of form in Spain. Standing between the sticks as the last line of defense for the Spanish Armada, he will once again try to make those big saves that have earned him fame in football.
Jan Oblak (Slovenia)
If you think of the legendary list of goalkeepers in football, Jan Oblak’s name will be there. The 31-year-old Slovenian goalkeeper will head into UEFA Euro 2024 after an average season with Atletico Madrid in La Liga. In 38 appearances, he has conceded 43 goals while not allowing any on 13 occasions in the Spanish top flight. However, he has always been a consistent performer for Diego Simeone’s side and is one of the top performers ever in Spain.
Mike Maignan (France)
Following the retirement of Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan has had a tremendous impact on the star-studded French side’s success. The AC Milan goalie has established himself as an important figure already in Serie A. He has a penchant for setting his mates for goals through long throws and accurate shots from inside his box. As he has required experience in featuring at big stages like Euro 2020, he will justify his “one of the best goalkeepers” tag in the UEFA Euro 2024.
Wojciech Szczesny (Poland)
Great balance, composure, calmness and technique, these are the traits that make Wojciech Szczesny one of the best goalkeepers in the UEFA Euro 2024. The 34-year-old Juventus goalie recorded a whopping 15 clean sheets in 35 appearances in Serie A, allowing only 35 goals to get past him this season. Poland has qualified for Euro 2024, thanks to his individual brilliance against Wales in a qualifier a few weeks ago when he stood tall between the sticks in a penalty shootout.
Yann Sommer (Switzerland)
Whenever Switzerland needed a job done, Yann Sommer was the man to execute it with perfection. The Inter Milan goalie has been a part of the national team for more than a decade. And he has been their mainstay at the highest possible level all the time. Sommer was the last line of the defense with his gloves on for the Swiss contingent in three World Cups and two Euro Championships. The 35-year-old has kept clean sheets on 19 occasions in just 34 games in Serie A. There is no doubt about his presence on the list of the best 10 goalkeepers going into Euro 2024 this summer. Sommer has the necessary fire in him to light up the summer in Germany.
Also Read: England Euro 2024 Squad: Jack Grealish, Harry Maguire, and James Maddison Left Out