Ranking the 10 Best Real Madrid Goalkeepers of All Time

The evolution of goalkeeping has been remarkable over the past century, transforming from a simple shot stopper to modern day playmakers. But when you hear or think of Real Madrid, images of attacking greats, midfield maestros, and defenders come to mind. Right? From Alfredo Di Stefano and Puskas to Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema, the club’s attacking legends have captured most of the spotlight.

In this article, we will analyze and take a look at some of the great Real Madrid goalkeepers, from Iker Casillas to Thibaut Courtois. Ranking the 10 Best Real Madrid goalkeeper is particularly challenging because their team always falls short of a star between the posts. Here is a list of the top ten best goalkeepers in the famous white shirt.

What defines a great goalkeeper?

Impact & Trophies: The primary factor considered while compiling this list of the best Real Madrid goalkeeper, how significant these goalkeepers contributed to Real Madrid’s success and dominance.

Longevity: The second parameter considered while ranking the best Real Madrid goalkeeper was to look at the players maintaining their prime or peak form. These players performed consistently and maintained their position as first-choice keepers.

Leadership: The last factor we considered was to look at their ability to lead during tough times and performance at Bernabeu under pressure.

Top 10 Best Real Madrid Goalkeepers in History

10. Diego Lopez

Lopez was the second-choice keeper in his first stint at Real Madrid and returned from Seville in 2013 to replace Casillas, who suffered a hand injury, later signing for €3.5 million until June 2017. His dream of starting happened during his second spell on 30 January 2013, in a 1–1 home draw against FC Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup semis.

Throughout the season, Lopez would retain his position as the number one choice. Moreover, Jose Mourinho said, “Diego Lopez was the best player in my team”. His ability to command from the back and position himself was instrumental during high pressure matches. Lopez’s quick reflexes and shot stopping ability allowed him to maintain his position in the playing XI even after Casillas’ return from injury. He is one of the best Real Madrid goalkeepers.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
73	25	2	2005-07 2013-14

9. Cesar Sanchez

Cesar Sanchez joined giants Real Madrid as an optional goalkeeper during the 2000-01 season. However, he made his way to become the first-choice and started five out of nine UEFA Champions League matches during the capital side’s victorious campaign. Although he wasn’t the first choice goalkeeper, but later cemented his place in the starting XI with his consistency.

Sadly, he was substituted by Casillas in the final with Bayer 04 Leverkusen after suffering an injury, but was crucial in the side’s 9th European triumphs and by the time he left the club, he marked his legacy as one of the best Real Madrid Goalkeepers. His contribution throughout his career with Real Madrid was vital, winning the UEFA Champions League.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
59	17	6	2000-2005

8. Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois is the man of the moment at Real Madrid goalkeeper and is easily one of the best goalkeepers in the world. It took the huge Belgian a couple of years to find his feet when Real Madrid signed him from Chelsea for €38 million in 2018. Now a two-time La Liga winner also holding massive credit for Real Madrid in the Champions League, without him, the 14th victory wouldn’t have been possible.

Having already won the Yashin Trophy for being the best goalkeeper in the world, the 30-year-old has the highest percentage of saves in the Champions League this season (78.1%) and the second-most saves per 90 (3.9). With Thibaut Courtois holding the baton, the legacy of great goalkeepers donning the Los Blancos jersey continues strongly as one of the best Real Madrid goalkeepers in history.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
280	111	12	2019 – Present

7. Bodo Illgner

Bodo played 40 La Liga matches in his first year at Real Madrid to help the capital side win the domestic championship. In the coming season, he lost his place to Santiago Cañizares but regained it in time to play in the final of the UEFA Champions League against Juventus FC. Illgner was succeeded by 18-year-old Iker Casillas, after which he retired from football altogether in 2000.

In April 2013, Marca named him in the “Best Foreign Eleven in Real Madrid History”. His place in our list is justified by his technical excellence and big game mentality. Illgner’s positional discipline, sharp reflexes, and decision-making make him one of the best Real Madrid goalkeepers.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
119	34	5	1996–2001

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6. Francisco Buyo

The next name on the list of Real Madrid goalkeepers’ history is Buyo. The legend played 44 matches in his debut season, holding the Los Blancos’ number one for 11 years. Buyo was key in the Los Blancos La Liga success on six occasions, followed by two Copa del Rey titles, four Supercopa de España titles, and the 1994 Copa Iberoamericana.

With 542 top-division appearances, the world-class goalkeeper retired and became the third-most in the appearances chart, etching his name in the Hall of Fame. His ability to remain calm under pressure and his ability to quickly assess dangerous crosses made him one of the key players for Real Madrid.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
454	182	13	1986–1997

5. Keylor Navas

After an incredible 2014 World Cup, Navas was brought into the club on a six-year deal in 2014, with Iker Casillas still holding on to the gloves for Los Blancos. His moment to shine at Madrid only happened after the big Spaniard departed for Porto. Once he had made the spot his own, there was no going back. The Costa Rican was among the many records created and soon became one of the best keepers in the league.

He surpassed many records, being the only non-Spanish keeper to go past 100 appearances in LaLiga for Real Madrid and the first and only Costa Rican player to win the Champions League. He won three Champions League titles, one Copa del Rey, four FIFA Club World Cups, and three UEFA Super Cups with Real Madrid before joining PSG. His heroics in the Spanish capital are enough to secure his place as one of the greatest Real Madrid goalkeepers.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
162	52	11	2014–2019

4. Miguel Angel

Miguel Angel continues to be one of the club legends for Los Blancos, defining the Whites’ goal for nearly two decades. From the 1973-74 season onwards, he became the first-choice keeper after proving his worth on a rotational basis. His agility and positioning in the goal, coupled with his full-length saves, earned him the nickname of ‘El Gato’ or ‘the cat’.

He was succeeded by Garcia Remon, who was signed as a reserve for the aging Angel, but throughout their time together, they formed a partnership and were feared by many in the Spanish football community as the most effective keeping duo. Having won 12 national titles, including six La Liga trophies, one League Cup, and six Copa del Rey, he was presented the best keeper of La Liga in the 1975-76 season and the Don Balon award for the best Spanish player for the same year.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
346	132	13	1968–1986

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3. Juan Alonso

Juan Alonso’s contributions remain pristine after winning the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the best keeper in the league during the 1954–55 season. With four league titles and five European Cups to his name, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Alonso laid the platform for glory for the Royal Whites. A loyal player for 14 seasons made a total of 225 professional appearances for the club.

Like every other Basque goalkeeper, he learned how to play the game from the beach. He signed for Logrones at the age of 18 and moved to Ferrol, where his fine performances were noted by Real Madrid, who signed him in 1949. From then on, it was history, as Juanito Alonso never lost his place in the Madrid goal. He played alongside greats like Alfredo Di Stefano and Puskas. Unfortunately, his career ended after a collarbone problem after 14 seasons and 18 major titles with the club.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
291	74	9	1949–1961

2. Ricardo Zamora

Nicknamed El Divino, Ricardo Zamora played for Real Madrid between 1930 and 1936. Surprisingly, a Catalan by birth, he had featured for Espanyol and FC Barcelona before moving to the capital. He had a unique fashion sense of wearing a cloth cap and a white jumper with a Polo neck whenever on the field.

Athleticism, sharp reflexes, and accuracy were his famous traits between the sticks. He was elected the best Spanish Goalkeeper, fourth-best in Europe, and fifth-best in the world in 1999. He also made it into the list of the greatest players of the twentieth century, curated by World Soccer Magazine. He became the most capped player of his time until Jose Angel Iribar surpassed his mark. To cap it off, the trophy for the best goalkeeper in La Liga is named after him – the Ricardo Zamora Trophy.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
112	38	4	1930–1936

1. Iker Casillas

A modern-day Saint of the game, and when talking about Real Madrid’s goalkeepers, Casillas is the first name that would pop into anyone’s mind. Having achieved over a thousand professional appearances for Los Blancos, a first-team captain, and the record for most clean sheets in Champions League history, he had done it all.

At the age of 19, he won the Champions League for Real Madrid Castilla, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to win the competition. The club legend left his decorated legacy at Real Madrid as the best-ever name amongst the legendary list of Real Madrid goalkeeper. His performance against Barcelona will always be remembered by fans, especially his crucial saves against Lionel Messi.

Appearances	Cleansheets	Trophies Won	Active Years
725	264	18	1999–2015

List of All Time Best Goalkeepers of Real Madrid

Rank	Player	Nationality	Active Years	Trophies Won
1	Iker Casillas	Spain	1999–2015	18
2	Ricardo Zamora	Spain	1930–1936	4
3	Juan Alonso	Spain	1949–1961	9
4	Miguel Angel	Spain	1968–1986	13
5	Keylor Navas	Costa Rica	2014–2019	11
6	Francisco Buyo	Spain	1986–1997	13
7	Bodo Illgner	German	1996–2001	5
8	Thibaut Courtois	Belgium	2019 – Present	12
9	Cesar Sanchez	Spain	2000-2005	6
10	Diego Lopez	Spain	2005-07 2013-14	2

Also Read: Ranking The 10 Best La Liga Goalkeepers Of All Time

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