In the ever charged theatre of football, the goalkeeper can be the difference between pain and glory. The world best goalkeeper 2021 debate saw legends and new stars battling to write their names in history, reflecting both the modern game and deep traditions of the number one shirt.

Let’s break down exactly who captured that title, how they did it in both club and international stages, and which moments still live on among fans and collectors seeking iconic kits from the season.

Why World Best Goalkeeper 2021 Matters

The title of world best goalkeeper 2021 is about much more than a trophy or a line in the record book. This position has shaped club legacies, carried national hopes, and set the tone for entire seasons. The goalkeepers vying for this spot in 2021 faced the chaos of pandemic affected campaigns, dramatic cup finals, and the continued scrutiny of social media. The debate carried weight in every corner pub, on terraces, and across countless online forums.

A stand out keeper can define an era for their club. In 2021, this recognition linked not just to individual saves but to the resilience and leadership shown in some of the toughest seasons in living memory.

Selecting the World Best Goalkeeper 2021

Choosing the world best goalkeeper 2021 meant weighing several factors:

Consistency through the domestic league and European competitions
Defining club and national team moments from major tournaments
Contribution to big matches and clean sheet records
Tactical importance in build up play or penalty shootouts

We’ll use these guidelines to unpick which keepers stood out and why.

Keeper Profiles and What Made Them Stand Out

Édouard Mendy (Chelsea, Senegal)

Strengths: Lightning reflexes. Command of the box. Calm under pressure.
Defining Matches: UEFA Champions League final, Chelsea 1 Manchester City 0, 29 May 2021. Mendy kept a clean sheet, helping deliver Chelsea their second Champions League crown. He finished that campaign with nine clean sheets, equalling the record for a single tournament, and was a key reason Chelsea conquered Europe.
Milestones: African history in Europe: Became the first African keeper to start and win a Champions League final since Bruce Grobbelaar in 1984.
Why Fans Rate Him: Arriving from Rennes for a modest fee and instantly becoming a fan favourite, Mendy’s shirts became a must have for collectors and young keepers alike, symbolising belief in hard work and representing Africa with pride.

Gianluigi Donnarumma (AC Milan, Italy then Paris Saint Germain, Italy)

Strengths: Penalty shootout specialist. Imposing frame. Mature beyond his years.
Defining Matches: UEFA Euro 2020 final, England 1 Italy 1 (Italy won on penalties), 11 July 2021. Donnarumma saved from Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, becoming the first goalkeeper to win UEFA Player of the Tournament.
Milestones: Secured a move from AC Milan to Paris Saint Germain on a free transfer in the summer, a testament to his status as one of the game’s hottest young goalkeepers.
Why Fans Rate Him: Italy shirts bearing his name flew off shelves after his heroics at Wembley. For Italian fans and kit collectors, he captures the rebirth of Italy on the world stage and the pride of a new generation.

Jan Oblak (Atlético Madrid, Slovenia)

Strengths: Shot stopping excellence. Reliability. Incredible workrate every match.
Defining Matches: La Liga 2020 21 finale, Atlético Madrid 2 Real Valladolid 1, 22 May 2021. Oblak’s saves through the spring kept Atleti ahead in the table and secured their first title in seven years.
Milestones: Won La Liga Zamora Trophy for best goalkeeper (fifth time in seven years), underlining unmatched consistency.
Why Fans Rate Him: Oblak kits became crossover staples in both Madrid and home Slovenia. Revered for his loyalty and understated leadership, his shirts signal serious respect among proper football fans.

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany)

Strengths: Sweeper keeping. Distribution. Leadership on pitch.
Defining Matches: Repeated Bundesliga dominance and another Club World Cup triumph (February 2021, Al Ahly 0 Bayern Munich 2), showing his continued importance to Bayern’s system.
Milestones: Eleven Bundesliga titles. Unmatched in modern German football for longevity and influence.
Why Fans Rate Him: From kids in Gelsenkirchen to Munich collectors, Neuer’s name is etched in terrace culture. He built a style imitated by young keepers across Europe and his 2021 kits still hold status as markers of tactical evolution in the modern game.

Alisson Becker (Liverpool, Brazil)

Strengths: Quick off the line. Game saving interventions. Distribution a modern coach’s dream.
Defining Matches: Premier League, West Brom 1 Liverpool 2, 16 May 2021. Alisson scored a 95th minute header, the first ever by a Liverpool keeper, and kept their Champions League hopes alive.
Milestones: Lifting the Premier League and Champions League in consecutive years, Alisson’s contribution to Liverpool remains massive.
Why Fans Rate Him: Alisson’s 2021 shirt became an instant match day classic for Liverpool supporters, serving as a reminder of that emotional season and his unlikely but historic goal.

Explore our collection of Liverpool goalkeeper kits for that unforgettable year.

The world best goalkeeper 2021 debate played out against a backdrop of disrupted fixtures, empty stadiums, and a globe coming to terms with new realities. Clean sheets and last ditch slides gained added weight in empty grounds, while shirt sales and social media moments proved how connected fans remained.

Shirts like Chelsea’s deep teal or Italy’s blue, with the keepers’ names on the back, became streetwear statements and mementos of hope in tough times. The identity of a great keeper is often forged not in ceremony, but in those tense Champions League evenings or penalty nerves at Wembley.

What To Watch Next Season

Traditional powers such as Manuel Neuer were being pushed by inspiring new forces like Édouard Mendy and Gianluigi Donnarumma. With renewed emphasis on ball playing and athleticism, the upcoming season saw fresh debates over who would carry the standard for keepers around the globe.

Transfers, new national heroes emerging, and the evolution of kit styles goalkeeper culture never stands still. Supporters eyed new kit releases, waiting to see which names would be inked on the backs of shirts next.

FAQs

Who won the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award in 2021?
Édouard Mendy was awarded the Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in January 2022 for his 2021 achievements with Chelsea.
Why are keepers’ shirts from 2021 considered so iconic?
Many feature bold modern patterns linking back to early 1990s style, and the stories behind the names from Euro 2020 penalties to Chelsea’s triumphant season make them prized among supporters.
What separates a good goalkeeper from the world best?
Consistency in big matches, leadership, and the ability to save the team in make or break situations. In 2021, those attributes were visible every week from the names above.
Which club goalkeeper had the most clean sheets in Europe in 2021?
Édouard Mendy had nine clean sheets in the Champions League 2020 21 season, joint most in competition history for a single campaign.
Will any of these names go down as all time greats?
Many already have. Donnarumma is still young but the rest, like Neuer and Oblak, will be remembered for their influence on keeping and style worldwide.

Conclusion

The world best goalkeeper 2021 conversation will be debated on terraces for years to come. Each of these keepers gave us unforgettable moments Champions League triumphs, penalty shootout drama, league title clinchers and, just as important for collectors, unforgettable shirts woven into football history. Whether you rate the reflexes of Mendy, the nerves of Donnarumma, or the enduring class of Neuer, each inspires fans to believe in the value of the number one shirt.

Looking to own a piece of that legendary year? Check out our full goalkeeper kit collection on cheapfootballshirts.com for match day inspiration.