Ranking the 10 greatest goalkeepers with the most penalty saves in the 21st century

Who is the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves this century?
Who is the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves this century?

#7 Pepe Reina - 19 saves

SS Lazio v ACF Fiorentina - Serie A
SS Lazio v ACF Fiorentina - Serie A

The Spanish veteran is still on a mission to climb up the ladder. The 39-year-old goalkeeper has saved 19 penalties from his career across Europe. His international career never clicked due to the presence of the almighty Iker Casillas in the Spain team. But he cemented his presence as a top keeper with his performances at club level.

His most famous spell came during the decade-long stint with Liverpool. Reina won the Golden Glove thrice in the Premier League and earned his name as a penalty expert. He was their undisputed choice, averaging nearly 50 appearances a season.


#6 Iker Casillas - 20 saves

Lyon v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League
Lyon v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League

Legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas ranks sixth on this list with 20 saves. Don't get fooled by the position he has secured here. Casillas is considered the most decorated goalkeeper of all time and his skills have contributed a lot to his success. He is also one of the few players to have played more than 1,000 matches.

At the age of 18, he became the youngest goalkeeper to debut in the Champions League featuring for Real Madrid and held onto that record for 17 long years. The majority of his career lasted with Los Blancos and there is not a single trophy he hasn't won at the Bernabeu. Even for his country, he has won an international trophy in every age category.


#5 Petr Cech - 21 saves

Chelsea FC v Sporting Clube de Portugal - UEFA Champions League
Chelsea FC v Sporting Clube de Portugal - UEFA Champions League

Another goalkeeper belonging to the elite category is the Czech Republic international, Petr Cech. Honestly, he deserves more respect than he is given. He was part of the Premier League era where strikers were deemed the deadliest. Despite all that, he managed to grab four Golden Gloves and plenty of other individual awards.

He has saved 21 penalties this century and the most prominent one remains his display in the 2012 Champions League final. He saved a penalty in the match against Bayern Munich and stopped two more in the penalty shootout to grant Chelsea their maiden title.

Cech also holds the record for the most clean sheets(202) by a goalkeeper in the Premier League.


#4 Manuel Neuer - 25 saves

SL Benfica v Bayern München: Group E - UEFA Champions League
SL Benfica v Bayern München: Group E - UEFA Champions League

Manuel Neuer is one of the greatest goalkeepers ever and his calmness on the pitch remains unmatched. He handles his role without breaking a sweat and has redefined goalkeeping as a whole.

The 34-year-old German has the nickname 'sweeper-keeper' as he rushes out of the box whenever the opposition beats the last line of defense. He won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and also grabbed the Golden Glove in the respective competition.

Neuer has a plethora of individual trophies to his name which defines his skill. Bayern Munich's No.1 has saved 25 penalties and he could definitely add to it before retiring.

Quick Links