Top 10 Best Female Goalkeepers in the World 2023: The Elite Guardians of Women’s Soccer
The goalkeeper is a crucial figure in soccer, entrusted with the task of preventing goals and anchoring the team’s defense. Their exceptional shot-stopping abilities, positional awareness, communication, and distribution skills are instrumental in the success of the team.
There have been numerous exceptional female goalkeepers who have made their mark in the world of soccer. While it’s subjective to determine the “best” goalkeeper, here are some notable female goalkeepers who have achieved remarkable success and are widely recognized for their talents. We have compiled a list of the top 10 best female goalkeepers ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Let’s discover some of the best female football goalkeepers in the world who have proven their skills and earned their place among the elite in women’s soccer.
10 Best Female Goalkeepers in the World 2023
1. Mary Earps: England, Manchester United
So, our list starts with England’s goalkeeper Mary Earps: She is ranked no 1 position in our list of 10 best female goalkeepers for the year 2023.
Mary Earps, the talented goalkeeper from England and Manchester United, played a crucial role in the Three Lionesses’ victory in the women’s Euro competition in 2022. With exceptional goalkeeping skills, she is widely regarded as one of the top female soccer players globally. Throughout the tournament, Earps only conceded two goals in six matches and maintained four clean sheets. At the age of 29, she possesses great potential and will be a valuable asset for England in the upcoming World Cup in 2023.
At the previous Euros, Mary Earps showcased her exceptional goalkeeping abilities by achieving the joint highest number of clean sheets, a remarkable feat matched only by Germany. What sets her apart as one of the best female goalkeepers in the world is her exceptional decision-making skills. Earps possesses the ability to swiftly assess the situation and make split-second decisions, which significantly contributes to her effectiveness in protecting the goal.
2. Ann-Katrin Berger: Germany, Chelsea
Ann-Katrin Berger is a key player for both Chelsea and the Germany national team. She is expected to continue to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world for many years to come.
Berger is a goalkeeper who is known for her athleticism, reflexes, and shot-stopping ability. She is also a good communicator and has a strong presence in the penalty area. Berger has been praised by her coaches and teammates for her ability to make saves in important moments. She has also been recognized for her work ethic and dedication to the game.
In 2021-22, Berger was named the PFA Women’s Players’ Player of the Year. She was also named to the PFA Women’s Team of the Year for the fourth time. She was also named to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season (2019-20) and FIFA FIFPro Women’s World11 (2021)
3. Christiane Endler: Chile, Lyon
Christiane Endler is a Chilean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Division 1 Féminine club Lyon and the Chile national team. She has previously played for Colo-Colo, Valencia, Paris Saint-Germain, and the University of South Florida.
Edler has been a regular in the Chile national team since 2010. She has represented Chile at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Endler is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She has won the FIFA Women’s World Goalkeeper of the Year award twice, in 2019 and 2021. She has also been named the Chilean Footballer of the Year on four occasions.
In 2022, Endler was named the best goalkeeper at the UEFA Women’s Champions League. She helped Lyon win the tournament, their eighth title in a row.
4. Manuela Zinsberger: Austria, Arsenal
Manuela Zinsberger is an Austrian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for English Women’s Super League club Arsenal and the Austria national team.
Zinsberger has represented Austria at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cups, as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Zinsberger is considered to be one of the best female goalkeepers in the world. She is known for her shot-stopping ability and her ability to command her area. She is also a good distributor of the ball. In 2020, Zinsberger was named Austria’s Footballer of the Year. She is the first goalkeeper to win the award.
5. Sandra Paños GarcÃa: Spain, Barcelona
Sandra Paños GarcÃa-Villamil is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Paños is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She is known for her shot-stopping ability, her ability to command her area, and her distribution of the ball.
She has been a regular in the Spain national team since 2013, and she represented Spain at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the 2017 UEFA Women’s Euro, and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In 2020-21, Paños was named to the UEFA Women’s Champions League Squad of the Season, and later won the 2020-21 UEFA Women’s Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season award. At the end of the 2020-21 league season, she had conceded a league-best 12 goals.
Paños is a talented goalkeeper who is sure to continue to be a key player for Barcelona and the Spain national team for many years to come.
6. Kailen Sheridan: Canada, San Diego Wave
Kailen Mary Iacovoni Sheridan is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for National Women’s Soccer League club San Diego Wave and the Canada national team.
Sheridan is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She is known for her shot-stopping ability, her ability to command her area, and her distribution of the ball. She is also a vocal leader on the field.
In 2020, she was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. She was also named to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Best XI.
7. Alyssa Naeher: USA, Chicago Red Stars
Alyssa Naeher is an American soccer goalkeeper for the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and the United States national team. She was on the 23-player roster for the United States at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and was the starting goalkeeper for the U.S. at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. She is also the part of 2023 World cup squad. She has also played for the Boston Breakers and Turbine Potsdam. With the Breakers, she won the 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Naeher is known for her athleticism, her reflexes, and her ability to come off her line and make saves. She is also a good distributor of the ball, and she is often called upon to start the attack for the United States.
Naeher is a two-time NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year (2014, 2017). She was also named to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup All-Star Team.
8. Ellie Roebuck: England, Manchester City
England has established itself as one of the premier women’s national soccer teams globally and has produced a roster of top-notch female football goalkeepers.
Ellie Roebuck, a prodigious talent, made her debut for Manchester City at the young age of sixteen. Now at 23, she has already secured several major titles at the club, including the WSL, FA Cup, and League Cup.
Despite an injury setback, Roebuck made a significant impact in the latter part of the WSL season for Manchester City, aiding them in securing a spot in the Champions League. Impressively, she maintained an impressive 83.3% save rate, only conceding three goals throughout the season.
In addition to her goalkeeping prowess, Roebuck also excels as a distributor of the ball. She possesses the ability to swiftly and accurately distribute the ball to her teammates, further contributing to her team’s overall performance.
9. Adrianna Franch: USA, Kansas City
Adrianna Franch is an American soccer goalkeeper who currently plays for Kansas City in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). She is a member of the United States women’s national soccer team.
Franch is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. She is known for her shot-stopping ability, her ability to command her area, and her distribution of the ball. She is also a vocal leader on the field.
In 2017 and 2018, she was named the NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year. She has also represented the United States at the international level. She was a member of the United States team that won the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
10. Merle Frohms: Germany, Wolfsburg
Merle Frohms is an exceptional German professional footballer, currently serving as the goalkeeper for VfL Wolfsburg in the Frauen-Bundesliga and the Germany national team. Having made her senior international debut in 2019, she has become a regular and valued member of the national team. Notably, Frohms played a crucial role as a part of the Germany squad that emerged victorious in the 2022 UEFA Women’s Euro.
Frohms is widely recognized for her outstanding athleticism, remarkable reflexes, and commanding presence within her area. She possesses the ability to distribute the ball effectively, often initiating attacks for her team at Wolfsburg.
Renowned as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Frohms is poised to continue her impactful contributions for both Wolfsburg and the Germany national team for many years to come
Conclusion: Best Female Goalkeepers
These goalkeepers possess remarkable skill sets and have made substantial impacts within their respective teams. They possess the ability to make crucial saves that can turn the tide of a game and demonstrate leadership qualities on the field.
Determining the absolute best goalkeeper in the world is challenging since each of them has their unique strengths and weaknesses. However, the goalkeepers mentioned in this list undeniably rank among the best worldwide, and their dominance is expected to persist in the coming years.
