The Top Three Best Goalkeepers in UCL 2025/26

 

Three goalkeepers in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 have been statistically in the lead and deserve to be considered the UCL's best shot-stoppers this season.

UCL 2025/26 have just completed their league phase, and the playoff round draw result has been revealed. A few unexpected results in the last games cost Napoli, Real Madrid and even the reigning champions, PSG, the chance to qualify directly for the knockout stage. Even Il Partenopei failed to secure one spot in the playoff round due to their loss to Chelsea at their home turf.

In some of the last games in the league phase, some goalkeepers stole the spotlight to help their team’s campaign to stay alive in the competition this season. The likes of Newcastle’s Nick Pope and Bodoe/Glimt’s Nikita Haikin were some of them. Their heroic saves contributed to their team’s success in going through to the next stage.

Here are the top three best goalkeepers in the UCL this season, who are leading on the competition’s stats. Ironically, only one of them was the key figure in his team’s successful campaign in UCL.

Nikita Haikin (Bodo Glimt)

The Russian goalkeeper has been in the headlines along with Bodo Glimt’s success in going through the playoff round. He was heavily involved in the last two crucial games, as his side crushed Manchester City 3-1 at home last week and picked up a narrow comeback win over Atletico Madrid 2-1 on the road.

In the latter game at Metropolitano, Haikin made seven crucial saves which left Diego Simeone’s side frustrated. Yet, his best form was not the last outing. It was actually in the home game versus Juventus. Despite his team’s narrow defeat to the Italian giant, the former Bristol City goalie made 12 saves. The Israel-born shot-stopper also helped Kjetil Knudsen’s side hold Dortmund in a 2-2 tie on the road. Overall, he made a total of 49 saves in UCL alone. 

Haikin has never been called up by Russia's senior national team, although he was part of the youth side from U16 to U21. He is reportedly considering switching sides to Norway should he become eligible, as he intends to settle down in the north. The goalie has been part of Knudsen’s team since 2019. However, he might have to wait until 2028, as his starting date for a five-yearstay before switching allegiance only began in March 2023. It means Haikin will not be joining Erling Haaland and Co. in the 2026 FIFA World Cup yet.

Thibault Cortois (Real Madrid)

Courtois is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world today. The 33-year-old Belgian has already won a number of notable individual honours, such as the Golden Glove in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and FIFA Best in the same year, plus the three-time Best La Liga goalkeeper award.

Thus, no wonder that he is constantly on the list of top shot stoppers in each season on UCL stats. Cortois has made 41 saves in total so far in seven appearances. Yet, his top form could not help Real Madrid to seal one berth automatically in the knockout stage. Los Blancos have to go through a playoff round following their loss in Lisbon in the midweek.

Geronimo Rulli (Marseille)

The Argentine goalie is the next one on the list. Dibu Martinez’s understudy in the Argentina national team has been the key man between the sticks in Marseille’s campaign in Ligue 1 and UCL. Rulli has made 36 saves in total during the league phase.

The former Real Sociedad and Villarreal shot-stopper was at his peak form when OM beat Newcastle 2-1 at home and suffered a devastating 2-1 loss to Real Madrid at the opener. De Zerbi’s side only conceded by Kylian Mbappe’s double penalty. The 33-year-old goalkeeper contributed seven and 13 saves, respectively, in both games.

Sadly, OM failed to secure one spot in the playoff. They only finished 25th in the standings, narrowly missing the last berth following their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Club Brugge. The French giant’s campaign in Europe literally came to an end.