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#2 Gianluigi Buffon – 30 penalties saved
As one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers of all time, it should probably come as no surprise that Gianluigi Buffon ranks highly in terms of saving penalties.
The Italian veteran – still playing in Serie A with Juventus at the age of 41 – has been named the IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper on five occasions. He was also named as the 21st century’s best keeper by the same organisation.
Buffon has over 700 top-flight games under his belt, having played for The Old Lady for a total of 18 seasons following his move from Parma back in 2000. Aside from a single season spent in France’s Ligue 1 with Paris St. Germain, the Italian’s run as Juventus’ #1 was largely unbroken.
During that time period, he stopped 15 penalties in Serie A, including spot-kicks from legends such as Ronaldo, Francesco Totti and Roberto Baggio.
Nor were his penalty-saving exploits saved merely for his club career. As Italy’s long-serving #1, Buffon also made a number of crucial spot-kick stops for the Azzuri in major tournaments.
The 2002 World Cup saw him make a penalty save in Italy’s eventual second-round defeat at the hands of South Korea. In Euro 2008, he saved a spot-kick from Adrian Mutu in a group match with Romania. Buffon then saved from Dani Guiza in a quarter-final shoot-out with Spain, although Italy did eventually fall short.
Euro 2012, meanwhile, saw Buffon perform more penalty heroics, this time in Italy’s quarter-final shootout with England. The veteran goalkeeper saved the key spot-kick from Ashley Cole to essentially send his side into the semi-finals.
Essentially, this legendary keeper had no real weaknesses in his prime. And his exemplary record when it comes to saving penalties backs that up.
#1 Samir Handanovic – 38 penalties saved
With a massive 38 penalties saved, it’s clear that the 21st century’s best goalkeeper when it comes to stopping spot-kicks is Slovenia’s Samir Handanovic.
Handanovic is nicknamed ‘Batman’ by fans at his current club Inter Milan for his penchant for spectacular saves. The Slovenian has saved 24 penalties in Serie A alone, a record in the competition that he shares with Gianluca Pagliuca.
One record he doesn’t need to share, however, is the one for most consecutive penalties saved. Handanovic somehow stopped 6 in a row between 2013 and 2015. And his run of 6 spot-kicks saved in the 2010-11 campaign also equalled a record that had stood since 1948-49.
A stalwart of Serie A since becoming Udinese’s #1 back in 2007, Handanovic joined Inter in the summer of 2012 and has barely missed a game since. Along the way, the Slovenian has saved penalties from the likes of Luca Toni, Antonio Cassano, Edinson Cavani, Samuel Eto’o, and Kaka.
Essentially, while there have been more decorated goalkeepers in the 21st century, not even the likes of Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon can match Handanovic when it comes to saving penalties.
For any side facing a spot-kick, the Slovenian would be the man you’d want between the sticks.
