Goalkeepers are inevitably the last line of defence in any football side and are the last straw of hope to avoid conceding a goal. It should hence come as no surprise that managers around the world are willing to break the bank in order to secure the services of some of the best stoppers in the world. With the fast paced game that exists today, keepers are more important now than ever with the long range striking ability and overall potency in an attack that teams these days possess.
It’s hard to be a goalkeeper too, hardly ever being recognised for your saves and only making the news after a silly own goal or mistake which can often lead to frustration among even the very best footballers who’ve ever dawned a pair of keeping gloves. So this list is to provide hope and give fans some perspective on who might make the top category of keepers in FIFA 18 from the most watched league in the world.
Sportskeeda recently did articles highlighting the top 5 forwards in the Premier League and La Liga. We decided to go deeper into our ranking arsenal and bring out some of the best goalkeepers that are going to grace the upcoming FIFA 18 video game.
#5 Kasper Schmeichel
The second generation “Great Dane”, Kasper has quickly emerged from the shadow of his father Peter and become one of the shining lights in the Premier League goalkeeping scene. The young man has dealt with his fair share of disappointments but the familiar never say die attitude that his father had inevitably shone through, and his vital saves took Leicester City to a heroic Premier League triumph just two seasons ago.
In a weakened side too, Kasper continues to pull off some big saves, making his FIFA 17 rating of 82 seem meek compared to his actual ability. We can expect this stopper to rise a couple of notches at least.
#4 Petr Cech
Arguably the most dependable goalkeeper in the world, Petr Cech has cemented himself as a true Premier League great over the years, making his bow at Chelsea and overcoming a horrific injury to become one of the best of all time. His career at Chelsea was enough to secure legend status but now at Arsenal, the Czech goalie has proved he’s timeless.
Important saves at pivotal junctures of matches have seen him rise to the high 80s in FIFA 17 and with another solid season under his belt, FIFA 18 might provide something quite similar for the 35-year-old.
#3 Hugo Lloris
Just like Cech, another name that comes to mind when you think of dependable goalkeepers is French International Hugo Lloris. The Spurs stopper has taken to life in England smoothly and has developed into something of an icon in the Tottenham dressing room. Rightfully handed the captaincy, the former Lyon man has shown tremendous composure and determination, pulling off acrobatic saves and pushing his team out of defence.
The sweeper keeper is certainly among the world’s best and it wouldn’t be surprising if Lloris matched or bettered his 88 rating in FIFA 17, this time around.
#2 Thibaut Courtois
The past few years have seen a meteoric rise like no other. Thibaut Courtois arrived at Stamford Bridge as a lanky and promising young talent who needed just a bit of tweaking to become a sure shot success in the Premier League. His loan spell at Atletico saw him emerge into one of the very best in Europe, gaining experience at Europe’s highest level.
Hence it comes as no surprise that a return to the Bridge has brought all the success it has for the Belgian stopper. Premier League medals now dawn his home and a FIFA 18 rating of 90 could be on the cards for a goalie who has successfully managed to master the rugged terrain that is the English Premier League.
#1 David de Gea
Brought in from the Spanish capital, the talent of De Gea was there for all to see. Perhaps a little too young at the time, the pressure of the Premier League seemingly stifled the young prospect with Sir Alex often rethinking his decision of bringing the Spaniard to Old Trafford. As it turned out, all De Gea needed was a little time and confidence to show just how capable he actually was.
A couple of seasons in, the jitteriness that existed was all gone and a relatively new player was born. The heroic saves that the former Atletico keeper pulled off often saved United’s blushes and his performances have led to David becoming one of the very best if not the best goalkeeper in the world. It won’t be a surprise if this once upstart could dethrone Manuel Neuer to become the highest rated player in FIFA gaming today.
