Most clean sheets in football history: In football, a goalkeeper’s ability to keep a clean sheet shows their skill, focus, and determination. Clean sheets are important because they often mean strong defense and key match-saving performances.
Over time, many legendary goalkeepers have made their mark in history by keeping the most clean sheets in top-level football. These players are known for their great shot-stopping, leadership, and consistency, making them stand out in the football world.
Most Clean Sheets in Football History
Here, we look at the top 10 goalkeepers with the most clean sheets, celebrating their amazing careers and impact on the game.
10. Allan McGregor
- Matches: 763
- Clean Sheets: 301
- Clubs: Rangers, Beşiktaş, Hull City
- National Team: Scotland (42 caps, 16 clean sheets)
Allan McGregor, known for his consistency, is 10th on the list of goalkeepers with the Most Clean Sheets in Football History. He started his career at Rangers, where he made a big impact, winning several Scottish league titles and cups.
After playing for Beşiktaş and Hull City, McGregor returned to Rangers in 2018. He also played for Scotland for over ten years, with key international appearances.
McGregor has kept 285 clean sheets in his club career and 16 with his national team.
9. Rui Patricio
- Matches: 813
- Clean Sheets: 302
- Clubs: Sporting CP, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Roma
- National Team: Portugal (107 caps, 53 clean sheets)
Rui Patricio is 9th on the list with 302 clean sheets in his career. He was Known for his leadership and shot-stopping skills and became famous at Sporting CP before moving to Wolverhampton Wanderers and then Roma.
As Portugal’s first-choice goalkeeper, he played a key role in their successes, including winning the UEFA Euro 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019. He kept 53 clean sheets for Portugal.
8. Mickaël Landreau
- Matches: 795
- Clean Sheets: 309
- Clubs: Nantes, Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, Bastia
- National Team: France (11 caps, 9 clean sheets)
Mickaël Landreau is in 8th place with 309 clean sheets. He holds the record for most appearances in Ligue 1 and had a successful career, especially with Nantes and PSG.
Although he played a limited role for the national team, he helped France win the 2001 and 2003 Confederations Cup.
Landreau kept 309 clean sheets in total, including 9 for France.
7. Hugo Lloris
- Matches: 870
- Clean Sheets: 311
- Clubs: OGC Nice, Olympique Lyonnais, Tottenham Hotspur
- National Team: France (145 caps, 63 clean sheets)
Hugo Lloris is ranked 7th with 311 clean sheets. He is Known for his agility and leadership, and has been the captain of both France and Tottenham Hotspur.
He led France to victory in the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has been a top performer in the Premier League and for his national team.
Lloris has kept 63 clean sheets for France, along with many honors in club football.
6. Manuel Neuer
- Matches: 870
- Clean Sheets: 353
- Clubs: Schalke 04, Bayern Munich
- National Team: Germany (cap count not specified in the original data)
Manuel Neuer is ranked 6th with 353 clean sheets. Considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, Neuer is known for his sweeper-keeper style and dominance in goal.
He has won many league titles, Champions Leagues, and a World Cup with Germany. His 353 clean sheets highlight his consistency and excellence, especially during his time at Bayern Munich.
5. Igor Akinfeev
- Matches: 863
- Clean Sheets: 362
- Clubs: CSKA Moscow
- National Team: Russia (111 caps, 48 clean sheets)
Igor Akinfeev is in 5th place with 362 clean sheets. He spent his entire career at CSKA Moscow, achieving great success in Russian football, including multiple domestic titles.
Akinfeev also played a key role for Russia, appearing in several European Championships and World Cups. He ranks among the world’s top goalkeepers for his clean sheet count, with 48 clean sheets for Russia.
4. Petr Čech
- Matches: 907
- Clean Sheets: 397
- Clubs: Chelsea, Arsenal
- National Team: Czech Republic (125 caps, 56 clean sheets)
Petr Čech takes 4th place with 397 clean sheets. He is known for his resilience and ability to recover from a serious head injury. He had a legendary career with Chelsea, winning several league titles and the Champions League in 2012. He also had a successful time at Arsenal.
Čech holds the record for the most clean sheets in the Premier League and kept 56 clean sheets for the Czech national team.
3. Edwin Van Der Sar
- Matches: 951
- Clean Sheets: 440
- Clubs: Ajax, Juventus, Manchester United
- National Team: Netherlands (130 caps, 72 clean sheets)
Edwin van der Sar ranks 3rd with 440 clean sheets. He had an outstanding career, especially with Ajax and Manchester United, winning numerous domestic and European titles, including the UEFA Champions League.
As the goalkeeper for the Dutch national team, he kept 72 clean sheets in 130 appearances, solidifying his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers of his time.
2. Iker Casillas
- Matches: 1048
- Clean Sheets: 442
- Clubs: Real Madrid, FC Porto
- National Team: Spain (167 caps, 102 clean sheets)
Iker Casillas takes 2nd place with 442 clean sheets. Known as “San Iker,” Casillas had a legendary career at Real Madrid, winning many La Liga and Champions League titles.
He also led Spain to victory in the 2010 FIFA World Cup and two UEFA European Championships.
Casillas holds the record for the most clean sheets for Spain, with 102 clean sheets in 167 appearances.
1. Gianluigi Buffon
- Matches: 1127
- Clean Sheets: 504
- Clubs: Parma, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain
- National Team: Spain (176 caps, 77 clean sheets)
Buffon is known for his consistency, leadership, and incredible reflexes. He played at the top level well into his 40s, keeping over 500 clean sheets in his career, making him the player with the most clean sheets in football history.
He started his career at Parma, later moving to Juventus for a world-record fee. At Juventus, he won nine Serie A titles and many other trophies. Buffon also played for Paris Saint-Germain and returned to Juventus before retiring in 2023.
With 176 international caps, Buffon is Italy’s most-capped player. He led Italy to win the 2006 World Cup and earned the Golden Glove.
Buffon was named one of the greatest goalkeepers ever, winning numerous awards and setting records throughout his career.