The goalkeeper; the most underlooked position in all of FIFA. It's true that many goalkeepers in the game are broadly the same, but some set themselves apart as the essential last line of defense, hence the reason they are on this list!
Quick note: stats are from Ultimate Team, they are broadly the same on Career Mode (CM from here on out). I’ll be outlining the benefits of each keeper on both gameplay modes.
15. Salvatore Sirigu (Italy, Torino, Serie A)
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One of those players who seems to have been around forever.
This guy seems to have been around forever. He's certainly been among the best in the FIFA-verse for years, going under the radar of many players.
He’s either in the right place or able to get there with 84 Diving and Positioning.
50 Speed is great for such a cheap keeper.
6’4” with a light average build - he’s the real deal.
Why Sirigu is an amazing goalkeeper:
GK Long Throw gets counter-attacks started quickly and accurately.
FUT players can grab his 86 Inform for under 50k - he’ll compete with the very best.
Pick him up for under £20m on a modest wage in CM.
Quite possibly the most underrated goalkeeper playing today.
Our sole entry from the French league, Ruffier is another criminally underrated, a near ever-present name on the Saint-Etienne teamsheet for nearly a decade.
85 Positioning to be right where he needs to be, 84 Handling to gather in tricky shots.
Being 6’2” and stocky makes him an impressive figure in 1v1s.
82s in Diving and Reflexes. Ruffier is Mr. Consistent-Stats. Or something more catchy...
Why Ruffier is an amazing goalkeeper:
His French links on FUT.
His 86 FUT Inform boosts his Speed to 49 and makes him near-unbeatable.
£14m is a fantastic CM price for a GK with four of five years left.
13. Thibaut Courtois (Belgium, Real Madrid, La Liga)
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Taking a page out of the Phil Jones school of maximum-effort faces.
He's probably not kicked on his career following his magical Chelsea stint, but Courtois is still number one at Real Madrid and a World Cup Golden Glove winner, so he's not exactly struggling.
89 Handling and 87 Reflexes fit his reputation as one of the world’s best shot-stoppers.
85s in Diving and Positioning on top of that. Courtois might be Dr. Consistent-Stats. Sorry, Ruffier.
The tallest GK here at 6’6”, a colossus.
Why Courtois is an amazing goalkeeper:
At 26 years old on CM he still has a potential point to grow, and is reasonably cheap. You can make an excellent profit from him.
For 36k on FUT you just need a Basic chem style for some of the best stats in the game.
Comes For Crosses trait is massive against the crossing game, especially with his height.
12. Kepa Arrizabalaga (Spain, Chelsea, EPL)
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He's had attitude issues recently, it's going to be interesting following his career.
Getting into the slew of EPL goalies now. We have got it so good between the sticks in England, starting with Chelsea’s Kepa.
A rare example of a regular Gold card with five 80+ stats.
86 Kicking is amazing for starting direct corner counters.
85 Reflexes, 84 Diving, 82 Handling.
Why Kepa is an amazing goalkeeper:
The monstrous potential of 89 in CM, and at just 23 years old he’ll be around for a long time.
A 4-Star Weak Foot and Saves With Feet trait; both come in handy on FUT in particular.
Shockingly cheap on both modes - 5k FUT, ~£30m CM.
My personal starter team GK on FUT this year. I have to say, he is a solid player that’s saved my poor defending much embarrassment. I still use him now.
86 Reflexes more than cover his 40 Speed as he can get to anything.
Comes For Crosses/GK Long Throw combo is perfect for turning defense into attack.
82 Positioning feels like 92 at times.
Why Hradecky is an amazing goalkeeper:
He’s 1k on FUT. 1k. Unbelievable value for money.
£16m on CM, and once you’ve Jedi-mind-tricked his agent into agreeing £40k wages you’re set for eight years at least.
I use him. Does that not count for something? It’s my article, so I say yes.
10. Peter Gulacsi (Hungary, RB Leipzig, Bundesliga)
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Don't his hairline trick you, Gulacsi still has time to get better.
A league rival of Hradecky’s, Gulacsi is a mean opponent for any striker. Part of an RB Leipzig team that has shocked a lot of people over the last couple of seasons, the Hungarian stopper will be around the top-flight for a while yet.
Only he, Kepa, and one other GK have five 80+ stats outside the elite OVR 88+ goalies.
Those stats are fantastic - the best being 86s in Handling and Reflexes.
Diving and Positioning follow at 84 leaving Kicking his second-lowest (which is what you want).
Why Gulacsi is an amazing goalkeeper:
Snap him up for under £30m and grow him to an 86-rated beast on CM.
His base FUT card is so good that it’s not even worth spending an extra 20k coins on his Champions League MOTM.
Either mode - You can sell your most expensive keeper to make bank and he’ll hold the fort easily.
9. Pau Lopez (Spain, AS Roma, Serie A)
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Another one for the future of European goalkeeping.
Possibly my first curveball - with Lopez actually taking the place of Manuel Neuer on this list. With a non-rare Gold card on FUT it’s easy to look past him, but I’ll tell you why you shouldn’t.
He’s got the four big guns - 82 Diving, 83 Handling, 84 Reflexes, and 82 Positioning.
His Speed is a very respectable 48.
6’2” and 77kg, so he’s as agile as the majestic antelope. I love nature documentaries.
Why Lopez is an amazing goalkeeper:
Take him from 83 to 88 on CM; not bad for a 23-year-old valued at £22m.
You HAVE to check out his 85 TOTW Moments card. It’s under 25k with minimum 85s in the four key categories with 52 Speed to boot.
One for the future - and who doesn’t want to get behind Roma? Great FUT hybrid potential.
8. Neto (Brazil, Barcelona, La Liga)
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The best backup keeper in the world?
Barca’s backup goalkeeper makes it onto the 15 best in FIFA. I thought the Premier League had it good. Neto offers some unique advantages to CM managers.
6’3” with 54 Speed is a potent combination.
86 Diving is his high point.
82s in Reflexes and Positioning follow, with 81 Handling for one of the best stat balances in the game.
Why Neto is an amazing goalkeeper:
Brazil/La Liga is amazing for hybrids in FUT.
Barca CM managers: keep him, grow him to his 85 potential, and make £70m+ from ter Stegen.
All other CM managers (with £30m spare): being behind ter Stegen means you’ll be able to pick Neto up fairly easily.
7. Allison (Brazil, Liverpool, EPL)
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Brazil's number one has big-time upgrades.
The Brazilian theme will continue for a couple more entries yet. Remember when Brazil had Dida and Julio Cesar in goal? Liverpool’s Alisson lays the heaviest claim to the No.1 jersey right now.
We have our first 90! Alisson’s Positioning is exemplary.
He’s also got 89 Reflexes, 85 Diving and Kicking, and 84 Handling.
His Speed is 52, with the Rushes Out Of Goal trait rounds off a tremendous list. Bravo, Alisson. Alimmum and Aliddad must be so proud. I’m not even sorry.
Why Alisson is an amazing goalkeeper:
Did you see those stats?
If they’re not up to scratch somehow, save up half a million coins and get his TOTY FUT card, or take him to his full CM potential of 91.
He’ll set you back a bit on CM at £50m with £125k wages, but you can sell the rest of your goalkeepers - and most of your defenders, to be honest.
6. Ederson (Brazil, Manchester City, EPL)
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The face of the new wave of ball-playing goalkeepers.
Poor Neto. Stuck behind ter Stegen at Barcelona, and happens to be around at the same time as Alisson and Ederson for Brazil. Man City’s number one wins my best Brazilian FIFA keeper competition for one reason.
Speed. 64 for Ederson is just outrageous.
Have 93 Kicking on top of that if you’re an accurate counter-starter.
Have 88 Reflexes, 86 for Diving and Positioning, AND 82 Handling on top of that.
Why Ederson is an amazing goalkeeper:
Instead of spending 50k more on his FUT TOTY Nominee card, put a Basic chem style on his 88. Then win, a lot.
He’s a little cheaper than Alisson on CM too, with the same potential rating of 91.
Another keeper to serve you a decade.
5. David de Gea (Spain, Manchester United, EPL)
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The most beautiful man in all of football. Don't @ me.
Still the top of the crop for the EPL FIFA keepers, despite a dip in form for Manchester United. De Gea is a fan favorite and one of the last remaining Gold goalkeepers that aren’t out of place in a FUT superteam.
Double 90s - 90 Diving and 92 Reflexes.
85 Positioning, 84 Handling, and a very good 57 Speed.
A big 6’4” with GK Long Throw and, of course, Saves With Feet Traits.
Why de Gea is an amazing goalkeeper.
A bit of a CM pinch at £45m, but totally worth it as one of the best in the game.
Honestly a bargain on FUT; 44k coins and he’s as good as any Icon or special card.
He will save you (pun intended) time after time on 1v1 situations.
4. Andre Onana (Cameroon, Ajax, Eredivisie)
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A move to a top-five league beckons for Onana.
Possibly my favorite goalkeeper in the entire game. The only reason Onana isn’t second on this list is that it’s difficult to link his league and nationality into endgame FUT sides. Career Mode is where he really shines, though.
Remember the ‘one other’ <88 GK with five 80+ stats? This is him.
88 Kicking, 85 Diving and Reflexes, 82 Positioning, and 80 Handling.
Plus 63 Speed to help him smother counter attacks with his Rushes Out Of Goal trait.
Why Onana is an amazing goalkeeper:
He’s half the price of Neto on FUT with unquestionably better stats.
His CM potential is 89. With a £25m valuation and £17.5k wages he represents the best value for money in the game.
His TOTY Nominee FUT card is a spectacularly balanced 86 rating - better than his 86 Inform and 10k cheaper somehow.
3. Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Germany, Barcelona, La Liga)
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Ter Stegen saves an aging Barca team on a regular basis.
The big German was ridiculed for a while for not being good enough for Barcelona. Ter Stegen showed everyone by becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the club’s history. Good effort, sir.
Comes For Crosses, Rushes Out Of Goal, and Saves With Feet are three terrific traits - and he has all of them.
So well rounded: 90 Reflexes, 88 Diving, Kicking, and Positioning, 85 Handling.
I don the title of Lord Consistent-Stats onto Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Why ter Stegen is an amazing goalkeeper:
CM potential of 93:the joint highest in the game. Massive money to make from him if you’re using Neto as a long-term first choice.
His 4-Star Weak Foot is a rarity for GKs.
His brand new TOTW Moments is only 175k and dropping (and it’s insanely good).
2. Jan Oblak (Slovenia, Atletico Madrid, La Liga)
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How does Atletico churn out these keepers?
Atletico Madrid has supplied three of FIFA’s top 15 goalies - in this guy’s opinion at least - and their current shot-stopper is the best of them all. Possibly the best goalkeeper in the world, Oblak is certainly the best non-Icon keeper on the game, but not quite my number one…
92 Handling and 90 Positioning already puts him ahead of the rest.
89 Reflexes and 87 Diving, and the ability to perform save animations I’ve never seen any other keeper do.
The Comes For Crosses/GK Long Throw combo is teamed with 50 Speed.
Why Oblak is an amazing goalkeeper:
He joins ter Stegen as the highest-rated potential players in CM at 93, and his wage is somehow under £100k.
For 100k coins you can pick up his FUT TOTY Nominee with three 90+ stats (Reflexes boosted to 90).
He does things literally no other goalkeeper on the game can do, some of his saves are physically impossible.
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, Milan, Serie A)
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Leading the youth revolution from the back.
The man who keeps the best keeper in the game off the number one spot. Donnarumma is a future star, who doesn’t have a FUT Future Stars card because he’s also a current star. The sky is the limit for this kid.
90 Diving and Reflexes with 49 Speed are his main selling points.
Comes For Crosses trait is what you’d expect from a 6’5” monster.
His other trait is Rushes Out Of Goal which, with his frame, narrows strikers opportunities down massively.
Why Donnarumma is amazing:
Career Mode, mainly. A nothing £12.5k wage, £35m selling price (ish), and a 92 potential rating. He’s 20 at the start of the season, you can get 15 seasons or more from him.
His 87 rated SIF comes in at under 100k and boosts his Handling and Kicking to 84s.
You can build unbelievable teams around him, he’s only going to get better.
When not throwing bananas & shells at fellow road users or taking down an post-apocalyptic tyranny, you might find Darren sequestered around food trucks at music festivals.
Gamer Since:
1998
Favorite Genre:
RPG
Currently Playing:
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Top 3 Favorite Games:
Fallout: New Vegas, Assassin's Creed 2 , Saints Row IV
