Football fans love a big debate at the ground, and ranking the top keepers in the world is territory that sets terraces buzzing. In 2022, the conversation around the world best keeper 2022 took on real meaning, woven through big club nights, cup finals, and campaign drama after a strange few pandemic seasons.

‘Best’ is never just about stats. It is saves on giant stages, moments that swing a season, and the sense of assurance one player can give both team mates and supporters. Let’s break down who stood tallest between the sticks in 2022, how we judge it, and why it echoes through the culture of football today.

Why the World Best Keeper 2022 Debate Matters

Keepers are rarely in the running for personal glory, so when the world best keeper 2022 question lights up, it reflects a season where one or two goalkeepers have truly transformed games. Supporters look for those who produced heroics when it mattered be it a Champions League night, an international tournament, or guiding their club to unlikely success.

Criteria for Choosing the Standout Keeper

Selecting the world best keeper 2022 is not simply a matter of most clean sheets, though that helps. Here is what really counted:

Game changing saves in high stakes matches
Leadership and influence on the back line
Consistency from August to May, across all competitions
Moments in major finals or title deciding games
Fan sentiment who ‘owned’ the year in the eyes of supporters?

For many, the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy helps pin down the shortlist, but wider terrace chatter often brings in key saves, iconic kit moments, and stand out performances.

Top Picks for World Best Keeper 2022

Below are the keepers who defined 2022, each with a breakdown of their strengths, historical context, and why the year mattered.

Thibaut Courtois Real Madrid and Belgium

Strengths: Command of his box, reflexes, unrivalled reach.
Defining match: 2022 UEFA Champions League final, Real Madrid v Liverpool, 28 May 2022. Courtois produced a series of spectacular saves, most notably denying Mohamed Salah late on, sealing a 1 0 win for Real.
Club and national milestones: Won Champions League, Spanish La Liga, and helped Belgium reach the World Cup quarter finals.
Why fans rate him: Courtois’ Wembley masterclass against Liverpool is still sung about by Madridistas. His 2022 season fit into the club’s rich history of Galacticos producing on the biggest stage and tied to Madrid’s identity of thriving when it matters most.

Alisson Becker Liverpool and Brazil

Strengths: One on one stops, calm under pressure, distributing the ball quickly.
Defining match: FA Cup final at Wembley, 14 May 2022. Saved Mason Mount’s penalty in the shootout, helping Liverpool secure a famous domestic double.
Club and national milestones: FA Cup and League Cup winner, runner up in Premier League and Champions League.
Why fans rate him: Alisson stands as the pillar of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. His celebration style and bond with the Kop highlight his role. That penalty save remains a huge part of Liverpool’s cup folklore.

Ederson Moraes Manchester City and Brazil

Strengths: Sweeper keeper play, range of passing, positional sense.
Defining match: Final match of the Premier League season, 22 May 2022, made crucial close range stops as City came from two goals down to seal the title.
Club and national milestones: Won fourth Premier League title, continued to set standards for modern keepers under Pep Guardiola.
Why fans rate him: Ederson’s risk taking and ability to start attacks became a symbol of City’s style. His bright Puma kit from the 2021 22 season is already a streetwear favourite due to its bold look.

Mike Maignan (AC Milan and France)

Strengths: Shot stopping, vocal command, confidence.
Defining match: AC Milan’s 3 0 win over Sassuolo to clinch their first Serie A title in over a decade, 22 May 2022. Maignan’s saves steadied nerves when needed.
Club and national milestones: Serie A title winner, France national team regular.
Why fans rate him: Maignan’s rise was linked to Milan’s return to the top. Supporters see him as a symbol of the club’s new era, and his high visibility pink kit was everywhere from the Curva Sud to city streets.

Yassine Bounou “Bono” Sevilla and Morocco

Strengths: Reflexes, penalty stopper, charisma.
Defining match: Moroccan World Cup playoff, March 2022, key save in extra time to help Morocco qualify for Qatar.
Club and national milestones: Zamora Trophy for La Liga’s best defensive record.
Why fans rate him: “Bono” became a cult figure in Sevilla, linking to the club’s tradition of popular charismatic keepers and bringing fresh energy to African football’s representation at the top level.

The 2022 Era in Context

What made 2022 unusual was the wide spread of keepers excelling across Europe and South America, each plugging into their club’s wider story.

Real Madrid’s Champions League run saw Courtois in a black kit reminiscent of the club’s late 90s and early 2000s Euro adventures.
Maignan’s Milan title was an echo of the Paolo Maldini era, blending history with new school flair.
Alisson’s saves in Liverpool’s cup journey felt like a throwback to the big nights at Anfield in the 70s and 80s, but with a modern twist every save instantly viral, every kit a collector’s item.

These keepers’ shirts from the 2021 22 campaigns are now favourites among collectors and streetwear heads alike. If you want to wear a bit of that season, browse the Liverpool collection at cheapfootballshirts.com.

What to Watch Next Season

The question of world best keeper 2022 sets the bar for those following. Next season brings:

The return of traditional powerhouses to the Champions League mix
Potential transfers, with speculation around Maignan and Bounou
Rising stars eager to make the list keepers like Gianluigi Donnarumma and Aaron Ramsdale showing promise
Kit revivals, with supporter led campaigns for reissues of cult favourite designs

FAQ

Who won the Yashin Trophy for 2022?
Thibaut Courtois was awarded the Yashin Trophy, given by France Football, recognising his run to the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid and standout saves in the final in May 2022.
How is the world best keeper decided?
There is no single metric. Major decisions come from journalists, former players, and fans, weighing big match performances, clean sheets, leadership, and ability to change the flow of decisive games.
Which iconic kits stood out for keepers in 2022?
Courtois’s all black design at Real Madrid, Alisson’s green and yellow Liverpool shirts, and Maignan’s eye catching pink for Milan became terrace favourites, linked to their finest saves.
Has a keeper ever won the Ballon d’Or?
It is rare. Lev Yashin did in 1963, and his legacy is the main reason the best keeper trophy is named after him. Supporters still debate whether a number one gets enough recognition for changing a match.
Where can I buy shirts from the 2022 season?
Retro and recent keeper shirts from this era, including Champions League and domestic cup finals, are regularly featured at cheapfootballshirts.com.

In Conclusion

The world best keeper 2022 debate draws on individual glory, squad spirit, and the lasting weight of big moments. Fans remember Courtois’s towering night in Paris, Alisson’s cup heroics, and Maignan’s title sealer, not just as highlights but as chapters in their club’s story influencing what shirts we wear, what moments we chant about, and how future keepers are measured.

Whether you love the culture of iconic kits, the drama of cup finals, or the quiet assurance a keeper brings on a stormy match day, 2022 delivered memories that will keep getting replayed in fan debates for years. For a closer look at player era shirts, keep an eye on the growing collections at cheapfootballshirts.com.