'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The role of goalkeepers in football just cannot be underestimated. It is quite evident how a good player between the sticks can help you win matches and it hasn't changed one bit.
In fact, nowadays the concept of a goalkeeper is more advanced. The concept of a sweeper-keeper is more encouraged, demanding the man between the sticks to be more participative in the game.
Some young goalkeepers look fantastic for the future
Football has seen some incredible goalkeepers enrich the game. The likes of Iker Casillas, Gianluigi Buffon, Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech, Manuel Neuer and many others have shown how invaluable a player is between the sticks.
The goalkeepers of the new generation look very promising and quite modern with their approach. With more improvised techniques, it surely looks like a bright future for the game of football.
On that note, let's take a look at some of the best young goalkeepers under the age of 25 in world football at the moment:
#5 Alex Meret (Napoli)
Alex Meret comes from the youth academy of Udinese in Italy. The 24-year old Italian made his first senior appearance in December 2015 against Atalanta in the Coppa Italia.
The following summer the young goalkeeper was sent on loan to Serie B side SPAL. Meret's loan was extended for another season as the club earned promotion to Serie A.
In the summer of 2018, Napoli signed the Italian goalkeeper from Udinese. Meret has been with the Parthenopeans and is being used in rotation with Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
The former Udinese goalkeeper is known to be a very calm and composed figure between the sticks. His reading and decision-making while handling crosses is highly-rated and so are his shot-stopping skills.
The one area where he can improve is with his passing. He's also known to do well when it comes to stopping penalties. Over time, Meret is likely to become well-rounded and make a name for himself.
#4 Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao)
The young Spanish goalkeeper is a graduate of Athletic Bilbao's youth academy. It took time for Unai Simon's career to pick up but once it did there has been no looking back.
Simon was the fourth-choice goalkeeper for Bilbao behind Kepa Arrizabalaga, Iago Herrerin and Alex Remiro. With Kepa's departure to Chelsea in the summer of 2018, Herrera getting injured and Remiro stalling his contract, the young Spaniard got his breakthrough. Even though Simon did not get as much game-time as he would have desired, he made a good impression of his capabilities.
The very next season he was made Bilbao's first-choice goalkeeper and since then, he has managed to keep his place intact. Not only that, Simon has now become a regular starter for Spain's national team and was involved in all the games for La Roja at Euro 2020.
Simon was quite impressive with his penalty-stopping abilities against Switzerland and nearly managed to help beat the Italians in the semi-finals. He has also managed to help Bilbao reach two Copa del Rey finals, including their triumph last season.
The 24-year-old possesses good passing range and an even better command at the back. His shot-stopping abilities have been impressive and with experience, the Spaniard is only getting better. Simon has managed to strongly challenge David De Gea at the national level and is looking a very promising prospect for the future.
#3 Illan Meslier (Leeds United)
The French goalkeeper started his career at the age of six when he joined FC Lorient's youth academy. After his successful development, Illan Meslier was in huge demand as both AS Monaco and Premier League club Chelsea inquired about his availability.
Lorient rejected the advances and a year later the young goalkeeper was sent on loan to Leeds United with the option of buying him on a permanent deal. Leeds triggered the clause to make the move permanent after they were promoted to the Premier League next season.
The young goalkeeper has since impressed critics and has been a key member of Leeds United. With his nimble feet and quick movement, Meslier is good at playing the sweeper-keeper role. His passing has been very impressive and is known to be very composed when under pressure.
Under Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa, the French goalkeeper is only touted to gain more experience and get better. Within no time, the Whites could be flooded with enquiries for their young man between the sticks.
#2 Dean Henderson (Manchester United)
The young English goalkeeper has been with Manchester United since the age of 14. After graduating from United's youth academy, Dean Henderson was sent on loan to a number of clubs.
He had loan spells at Stockport County, Grimsby Town, Shrewsbury Town and then Sheffield United. His most productive spell came with Sheffield United when he joined them in 2018.
The young goalkeeper was instrumental in helping the Blades secure promotion to the Premier League in 2019. He won the club's Young Player of the Year award back then. Henderson's game only got better in the Premier League as the Englishman kept 13 clean sheets in the entire season, conceding just 33 goals in 36 appearances.
The following season, the English goalkeeper challenged David De Gea to become Manchester United's starting goalkeeper. Henderson has done a decent job so far and it seems like the Red Devils have secured their future between the sticks with the Englishman. The 24-year-old goalkeeper is also expected to be more of a regular starter for the England national team in the future.
#1 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain)
Gianluigi Donnarumma initially started playing football for Napoli's youth academy. At the age of 14 though, the Italian goalkeeper was signed by AC Milan where the youngster could join his elder brother Antonio.
The shot-stopper made his senior debut in 2015 at the age of 16 years and 242 days, becoming the second-youngest player ever to debut in Serie A. There on, Donnarumma not only gained experience but also made a name for himself while playing for the Rossoneri.
With him entering the last year of his contract last season, Milan were desperately involved in trying to extend his stay beyond the 2020-21 campaign. However, Donnarumma did not reach an agreement with Milan and this resulted in the 22-year old joining Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer this summer.
It was a massive loss for Milan and they would have been more devastated seeing how Donnarumma performed at Euro 2020. His extra-ordinary performances in the tournament, especially in the penalty shootouts against Spain and England, earned him the Player of the Tournament award.
With his impressive reflexes, smart positioning and, most importantly, his maturity and reading of the game, Donnarumma could become one of the best goalkeepers in the world. PSG have got themselves a gem of a player in him and hopefully he'll be instrumental in bringing them a lot of success.
