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The quality or pedigree of a goalkeeper is often gauged by the number of key saves he makes and the clean sheets he keeps.
Football, in its simplicity, is a game that is won by the team that outscores the opposition. However, titles and championships are often won by teams that have the most robust defenses. That explains why most teams splurge to have quality personnel in their defensive third, especially a world-class goalkeeper.
Many top teams, especially in Europe's top five leagues, have quality goalkeepers, who keep a lot of clean sheets during a season. On that note, here's a look at the ten custodians in the top five leagues who have registered the most shutouts this year. Without further ado, let's get started:
Note: All data as per transfermarkt.
#10 Peter Gulacsi ( RB Leipzig) - 13
Peter Gulacsi has been one of RB Leipzig's most key players, especially since their promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016-17.
The Hungarian international has kept 74 clean sheets in over 200 games across competitions for Leipzig. Last season, Gulacsi's 15 Bundesliga clean sheets, the most by a keeper in the division, helped Leipzig to a creditable second-place finish.
This season, though, Gulacsi has kept shutouts in only two of seven games across competitions, which partly explains Leipzig's torrid start to the season. Die Roten are a lowly 12th in the table, winning just once in five games. They will hope for Gulacsi to regain his form from last campaign as they seek to climb up the league table.
#9 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) - 13
Manuel Neuer is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the game at the moment.
The 33-year-old has kept an impressive tally of 215 clean sheets across competitions in nearly 450 games for Bayern Munich. Neuer has played a key role in the Bavarian giants' nine-season Bundesliga stranglehold, and has won two continental trebles.
Earlier this season, Neuer kept his 205th Bundesliga clean sheet to move ahead of another Bayern legend Oliver Kahn. The 2014 FIFA World Cup winner now has the most shutouts of any goalkeeper in Bundesliga history.
Neuer wasn't at his brilliant best last season despite Bayern Munich winning their ninth straight Bundesliga title. He will look to regain his mojo this season as the Bavarian giants seek to continue their domestic dominance and make a splash in Europe.
#8 Alisson Becker (Liverpool) - 13
Alisson Becker, commonly known by his first name, has been a key player in the resurgence of Liverpool as a force to be reckoned with in England and Europe. Since the arrival of the Brazilian, The Reds have won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons.
The 28-year-old has kept 63 shutouts in nearly 150 games across competitions for Liverpool. He kept 15 clean sheets in the Reds' triumphant Premier League campaign in 2019-20.
Last season, Alisson's poor form and Liverpool's injury woes, especially in defense, meant the Reds endured a wretched campaign. They were in free fall before a late resurgence helped them finish third. Alisson made news by scoring a late headed winner, marking the first-ever goal by a Liverpool goalkeeper from open play.
Alisson has made a rousing start to the new campaign, keeping four clean sheets in five games as Liverpool find themselves joint top of the Premier League table. His continued good form could play a key role as the Reds strive to return to title-winning ways.
#7 Samir Handanovic (Inter Milan) - 14
Samir Handanovic has been one of the most consistent performers at Inter Milan since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2012.
The veteran Slovenian goalkeeper has kept 141 clean sheets in 395 games for the Nerazzurri across competitions. Earlier this year, Handanovic became the most capped Nerazzurri goalkeeper in Serie A history. He kept 15 clean sheets last season, which helped Inter win their first league title in over a decade.
Handanovic hasn't started the new season as well as he would have liked, though, keeping only one clean sheet in six games across competitions. He'll need to rediscover his mojo if Inter are to win successive league titles.
#6 Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) - 15
Thibaut Courtois is widely regarded as one of the top goalkeepers in the game at the moment.
The Belgian international enhanced his reputation as one of the world's best during a productive stint at Chelsea. Courtois took time to get going after arriving at Real Madrid, keeping only eight clean sheets in the league in his first season. But in the last two seasons, the former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper has stepped up, helping Madrid win the La Liga title in 2019-20 and finish second last campaign.
Courtois has kept 54 clean sheets in nearly 140 games across competitions for Madrid, a tally that includes 44 shutouts in the league.
He hasn't started the new season as well as he would have liked to, keeping only 1 clean sheet in six games. But Real Madrid won't fret over the form of their goalkeeper, as they are two points clear at the top.
#5 Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg) - 15
Koen Casteels has been a solid performer for Wolfsburg since his arrival at the club in the summer of 2015.
The Belgian goalkeeper has kept 66 clean sheets in nearly 200 appearances across competitions for the club. Widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga, Casteels kept 14 clean sheets in the competition last season to help Wolfsburg finish fourth.
The 29-year-old has made a good start to his 2021-22 campaign, keeping three clean sheets in five games as Wolfsburg find themselves behind table-toppers Bayern Munich. He'll look to continue his good form and help his team win their first Bundesliga title in more than a decade.
#4 Yassine Bounou (Sevilla) - 17
Yassine Bounou has been a breath of fresh air since his arrival at Sevilla in the summer of 2019.
The 30-year-old goalkeeper has kept an impressive 37 clean sheets in 67 games across competitions for the club. Bounou played a key role in Sevilla's triumphant 2019-20 Europa League campaign, keeping six clean sheets in ten games.
Last season, Bounou kept 15 clean sheets as Sevilla finished fourth in a close title race. That included a stretch when the Moroccan international went over 700 minutes across competitions without conceding.
Bounou has started the new campaign decently. He has kept two shutouts in four league games as unbeaten Sevilla try to stay within touching distance of the league leaders.
#3 Mike Maignan (AC Milan) - 17
Mike Maignan has been one of the in-form goalkeepers this season. He has hit the ground running after arriving at AC Milan this summer, keeping three clean sheets in five games.
In their first Champions League game in seven years, Milan eventually returned empty-handed from Liverpool despite Maignan's heroics. The France international had played a stellar role in Lille's triumphant 2020-21 campaign, keeping 21 shutouts in 38 games.
The Rossoneri will hope that Maignan continues his good form for the rest of the season as they seek a first Serie A title in over a decade.
#2 Ederson (Manchester City) - 19
Ederson is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He has played a stellar role in City's three Premier League triumphs in the last four years, keeping an impressive tally of 73 clean sheets.
The 28-year-old Brazilian, who has played nearly 200 games across competitions for City, is on the cusp of his 100th clean sheet for the club.
A quintessential ball-playing goalkeeper, Ederson looks set for another stellar campaign. He has kept four consecutive clean sheets since City's surprise loss to Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day of the Premier League season.
#1 Edouard Mendy - 19
Edouard Mendy hit the ground running since arriving at Chelsea last summer. The 29-year-old has been an instant upgrade on Kepa Arrizabalaga, keeping 29 clean sheets in 50 games across competitions.
Mendy was one of the key players in Chelsea's triumphant Champions League campaign last season, as he didn't concede in nine of 12 games. He also registered 16 clean sheets in the Premier League as the Blues finished fourth.
The Senegalese goalkeeper hasn't played a game yet this season due to injury. But he is expected to walk into the first XI once he is fit to return to action.
