Top 9 best goal save ever in football history

The best saves are always engraved in the minds of football fans. These saves not only change the outcome of the match but also shape the history of the king sport. From Gordon Banks’ extraordinary reflex against Pele in 1970 to Emi Martinez’s moment of genius that helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, each move has its own mark, making the difference between defeat and victory. In this article, let’s review with Premiumsoccertips.net the 9 best goal save ever in football history, proving the talent and fighting spirit of goalkeepers.

Top 9 greatest saves in football history

9. Mert Gunok vs Austria (2024)

Ralf Rangnick led Austria to the top of Euro 2024’s ‘Group of Death’ and has just seen his vibrant side eliminated from the knockout stages after a 2-1 defeat to Turkey, but he still has a sense of humour. “We had time to score an equaliser,” sighed the former Manchester United manager, “but it was difficult when they had Gordon Banks in goal!”

Türkiye owes its acrobatic save to Mert Gunok, not Banks. The 35-year-old former basketball player remained sharp in the final minute of stoppage time when another Austrian cross entered the box. Christoph Baumgartner’s powerful header hit the slick surface of the RB Arena, but Gunok read the rebound flawlessly, using his towering 196cm frame to block the ball. Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella is not getting caught up in the hype, telling the BBC: “It’s his job”.

8. Iker Casillas vs Netherlands (2010)

Iker Casillas can be incredibly humble. One of the greatest World Cup-winning goalkeepers of all time was the only man responsible for keeping Spain’s 2010 final against the Netherlands scoreless before Andres Iniesta scored the famous winner. When Arjen Robben, widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in his country’s history, charged at goal after the hour mark, Casillas took a gamble. The goalkeeper guessed wrong.

As Robben sprinted to his left, he directed the ball toward the far corner, only to watch it deflect off Casillas’ foot and miss the post. All of Spain hailed Saint Iker, but the wonder man himself was less than impressed. “It was just luck,” Casillas shrugged. “I believe that if Robben and I were like that 10 times, he would probably score nine goals“.

7. Dino Zoff vs Brazil (1982)

Dino Zoff’s save from Brazil’s Oscar at the 1982 World Cup is so legendary that it is simply known as ‘la Parata’ – ‘the save’. The 40-year-old Italy captain demonstrated the reflexes of a goalkeeper half his age by blocking a powerful header, not only stopping the ball from crossing the line but also catching it in the middle of his stomach in the dying seconds.

Brazil leveled the score twice in what became one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history. Zoff ensured the iconic match finished 3-2 in Italy’s favour. A reserved man, Zoff was so overcome by the victory and his decisive role in it that he broke into a television interview to kiss his manager Enzo Bearzot.

6. Gianluigi Buffon vs Milan (2003)

Often criticized as one of the dullest Champions League finals, the 2003 clash between Juventus and Milan began in dramatic fashion. Gianluigi Buffon watched as Andriy Shevchenko’s effort was ruled out in the opening eight minutes, before the ball was sent into the box in the 17th minute.

Milan’s Filippo Inzaghi lunged at the ball, firing a shot from 10 yards into the bottom corner. Buffon moved in the opposite direction but still managed to twist his tall frame into a shape that allowed him to push the ball around the post. Inzaghi’s priceless reaction, kneeling with his hands on his side-swept hair and a look of disbelief in his eyes, captured the quality embodied by a figure known as the ‘Maradona of goalkeepers’.

5. Gregory Coupet vs Barcelona (2001)

For many viewers – especially those who don’t boast any Arsenal connections – David Seaman is defined by his mistakes rather than his consistent years. A sluggish beginning, marked by long-range strikes from Nayim and Ronaldinho, stands as one of the rare missteps in a career that has earned him every domestic honor imaginable.

Anyone who doubted Seaman’s immense talent had their doubts silenced in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final. On his 1,000th career appearance, the 39-year-old Arsenal number one inadvertently blocked a Paul Peschisolido header from close range, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. For a goalkeeper who boasts the nickname ‘Safe Hands’, he has never been able to pull off such a miraculous save while wearing gloves.

4. David Seaman vs Sheffield United (2003)

For many viewers – especially those without Arsenal connections – David Seaman remains defined by his mistakes rather than his years of consistent excellence. A slow start, highlighted by long-range strikes from Nayim and Ronaldinho, is one of the few setbacks in a career that has seen him achieve every domestic honor possible.

Anyone who doubted Seaman’s immense talent saw their doubts silenced in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final. On his 1,000th career appearance, the 39-year-old Arsenal number one inadvertently blocked a Paul Peschisolido header from close range, keeping a clean sheet in a 1-0 win. For a goalkeeper who boasts the nickname ‘Safe Hands’, he has never been able to pull off such a miraculous save while wearing gloves.

3. Jim Montgomery vs Leeds (1973)

As Sunderland fans flocked to the English capital to watch the Black Cats take on Don Revie’s legendary Leeds United in the 1973 FA Cup Final, a documentary crew covering the day conducted a series of interviews with the travelling crowd. One of the hopeful supporters happened to be Jim Montgomery’s mother-in-law. Asked if her daughter’s husband would keep a clean sheet, she confidently declared: “Oh yes. He’ll keep them out. He’ll do it”.

Against all expectations, Montgomery fulfilled that prediction. The Sunderland goalkeeper blocked Trevor Cherry’s header from the foot of Peter Lorimer, who hit the ball back with such force that both the BBC and ITV commentators initially called it a goal before hastily correcting the error. As delayed replays showed, Montgomery blocked Lorimer’s dreadful effort against the crossbar, keeping a clean sheet in a famous 1-0 win.

2. Emi Martinez vs France (2022)

Argentina’s journey to the 2022 World Cup featured iconic moments that defined their path to glory. The opening defeat to Saudi Arabia, Nicolas Otamendi’s provocative celebration against the Netherlands, everything Lionel Messi did. But few individual incidents carried the weight of Emi Martinez’s save in the final seconds of the final.

As France’s Randal Kolo Muani advanced towards the Argentina goal in stoppage time, Martinez recalled thinking: “I want the ball to hit me in the face. I closed my eyes and said, ‘Hit me’.” The Frenchman’s effort hit Martinez’s outstretched boot instead of his face, forcing the penalty shootout he helped his country win. The goalkeeper’s hulking frame has been etched into the flesh of countless fans, immortalizing his iconic presence. Kolo Muani doesn’t need a tattoo to remember that moment. “It’ll be there forever”, he admits. Martinez, and the world, won’t forget it anytime soon.

1. Gordon Banks vs Brazil (1970)

Pele scored an astounding 1,283 goals in his illustrious career, yet for many who witnessed it, the most unforgettable moment wasn’t one of his triumphs but the shot he couldn’t convert. Dubbed the ‘save of the century’, veteran England goalkeeper Gordon Banks flung his imposing frame to the ground, defying all odds to block a powerful Brazilian header during the 1970 World Cup group stages. In a decade-long international career already adorned with England’s World Cup triumph four years earlier, Banks etched his name into history with that breathtaking save—a moment that forever showcased the brilliance and artistry of a goalkeeper at his peak.

Not for the other half of that iconic act, though. “Although truly extraordinary, my memory of Gordon is not defined by that,” Pele recalled after Banks’s death. “It was defined by his friendship. He was a kind and warm man who gave so much to people”.

Conclusion

The best goal save ever in football history are not only symbols of superb technique and reflexes, but also a testament to the fighting spirit and determination of goalkeepers. From Gordon Banks’ historic diving strike to Emi Martinez’s unbelievable moment, each situation contains its own story, engraved in the memories of fans. These moves not only save the match but also create legends, showcasing the brilliance and solidifying the irreplaceable role of goalkeepers in football. They are not merely goalkeepers but also the architects of extraordinary moments, the authors of epic chapters brimming with emotion, and the guardians of the king of sports. These moments remind us that football transcends being just a game; it becomes an art form, crafted by effort and passion, where every save builds upon the legacy of this beautiful sport.

See more: Collection of 10 best last minute goals in football history