Women's soccer history started in England in the 1920s to fill the void left by the diminished men's league following the First World War. Unfortunately, the women's game was banned not long after, accused of being "unladylike.” But it made a comeback in the 1970s and has since gone from strength to strength. The FIFA Women's World Cup first took place in China in 1991, and viewership has surged in the last decade. In 2025, 60% of all TV audiences in England tuned into the women's European Championship final.

The position of goalkeeper is often characterized as the loneliest on the field. The buck stops with you, and every goal conceded is ultimately your responsibility. While that puts a lot of pressure on keepers, they are also often the heroes of the team, making dramatic saves and coordinating essential defensive maneuvers.

For decades, female goalkeepers have been fighting for the recognition they deserve in the sport, which is finally coming to fruition. But who are the best female soccer goalies ever, and who is the exceptional talent to watch today? Read on to meet some of the most important figures in the history of women's football.

If you are an aspiring goalkeeper needing essential equipment, check out the premium collection available from Storelli.com, with a great range of women's soccer gear, plus soccer gear for men.

Our Favorites

• Best Women’s Goalkeeper Right Now – Mary Earps
• Best Young Goalkeeper on the Rise – Cata Coll
• Best All-Time USA Goalkeeper – Hope Solo
• Best European Legend – Nadine Angerer
• Best Club Goalkeeper (Modern Era) – Christiane Endler
• Best Clutch Performer in Finals – Alyssa Naeher
• Best Futsal/Indoor Transition Goalkeeper – Phallon Tullis-Joyce
• Most Decorated Club Career – Sarah Bouhaddi
• Most Underrated Icon – Briana Scurry

Featured Profiles: Best Women’s Soccer Goalkeepers

Best Women’s Goalkeeper Right Now – Mary Earps

• Born: England, 1993 (age 32)

Mary Earps is widely believed to be one of the best goalkeepers of all time, winning the FIFA Best Goalkeeper award and the Golden Glove at the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023. She is known for her skill level and eye-catching acrobatic saves, most notably in the 2023 Women's World Cup final against Spain. But more important than dramatic saves in international appearances is her consistent performances for Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, boasting a high save percentage and numerous clean sheets.

• Legacy or Outlook: Earps is currently at her peak, fending off competition from younger, upcoming stars.
• Pro Gear Tip: Earps prioritizes gloves with reinforced wrist support for high-stress saves, available in Storelli's collection of goalkeeper protective gear.

Best Young Goalkeeper on the Rise – Cata Coll

• Born: Spain, 2001 (age 24)

Spanish keeper Cata Coll is one of those younger players biting at Earps’ heels. At just 24 years old, she plays for FC Barcelona and on the Spanish national team. She also captained the Spanish U-17 team in the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. She is known for her comfort with the ball, which lets her play high up on the pitch and take on opponents in a sweeper-keeper role.

• Legacy or Outlook: Coll looks to be leading Spain's future in the net for the coming years.
• Pro Gear Tip: Young keepers should look for flexible, lightweight gloves that don’t compromise grip, available in Storelli's youth goalie gear collection.

Best All-Time USA Goalkeeper – Hope Solo

• Born: United States, 1981 (age 44)

The retired goalkeeper Hope Solo began her senior career in 2003, playing for various teams between 2003 and 2016, plus she represented the United States internationally 202 times, winning two gold medals at the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015. Despite retiring in 2016, her record is still unmatched thanks to her athleticism and fearless style. She has been recognized with a slew of awards over the years, including the FIFA Women's Goalkeeper Award, the Golden Glove in 2011 and 2015, and she was inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2022.

• Legacy or Outlook: Hope set the modern benchmark for American and international keepers.
• Pro Gear Tip: Stiffer finger spines can offer Solo-like control on diving stops.

Best European Legend – Nadine Angerer

• Born: Germany, 1978 (age 46)

Nadine Angerer is another legacy player, playing in the European leagues between 1995 and 2015, and representing Germany 146 times. She has since moved into a managerial career. Her skill in the net helped her teams win the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2003 and 2007 (during which she conceded no goals), the UEFA European Women's Champions League in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, and 2013, plus the Olympic bronze three times. She is also the only goalkeeper ever, male or female, to win FIFA World Player of the Year in 2013.

• Legacy or Outlook: Angerer remains one of Germany’s most iconic players and shares her knowledge and experience with a new generation.
• Pro Gear Tip: Elite shot blockers benefit from gloves with thick palm padding for high-velocity saves.

Best Club Goalkeeper (Modern Era) – Christiane Endler

• Born: Chile, 1991 (age 34)

The Chilean Claudia Christiane Endler Mutinelli is considered one of the best keepers in the world. She is also a trailblazer for South American players in the European league, earning a living as a female football player for Valencia, Paris Saint-Germain, and Lyon. From 2019 to 2022, she was among the three finalists nominated for FIFA's best women's goalkeeper. She has often been called technically flawless, giving her a knack for seemingly impossible saves.

• Legacy or Outlook: Already a legend at 33, Endler is focusing on building her club career over international play.
• Pro Gear Tip: Indoor/turf keepers may benefit from abrasion-resistant gear, available at Storelli.com.

Best Clutch Performer in Finals – Alyssa Naeher

• Born: United States, 1988 (age 37)

Alyssa Naeher is another established American star making a name for herself in the American leagues, particularly with the Boston Breakers and Chicago Stars, earning 2014 NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year honors. She represented her country 115 times between 2014 and 2024. Her calm under pressure lets her combine technical saves – especially in penalty shootouts – with strong leadership, making her known for efficiency rather than a flashy game. She played every minute of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 season and conceded only two goals for the team to win gold. She was also named the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper in 2024.

• Legacy or Outlook: Naeher retired from international play in 2024 after a legendary career but continues her club career.
• Pro Gear Tip: Goalie gloves with enhanced wrist wraps help with penalty dive stabilization, and shin guard sleeves support lower body protection.

Best Futsal/Indoor Transition Goalkeeper – Phallon Tullis-Joyce

• Born: United States, 1996 (age 28)

Phallon is an American player who has made her name playing for the Women's Super League club Manchester United and the U.S. national squad. With Manchester, she won the Women's FA Cup in 2023/24, and they were the runners-up the following year. This earned her the Barclays WSL Golden Glove for 2024/25. She has been known for adding stability to the Manchester team and boosting defensive play across the board. Her height also gives her an impressive aerial dominance.

• Legacy or Outlook: With Naeher approaching retirement, Tullis-Joyce may become the next starting goalie for the U.S. team.
• Pro Gear Tip: Tullis-Joyce is known to use BlazePods in training to improve handling, footwork, and peripheral vision.

Most Decorated Club Career – Sarah Bouhaddi

• Born: France, 1986 (age 38)

Bouhaddi is known for strength and agility, which enable essential saves. Her long career is defined by her time with Lyon, dominating the UEFA Women's Champions League, and 149 caps for her country. She was named the Best FIFA Women's goalkeeper in 2020 and has statistically been identified as the best female goalie on a number of occasions. She is another player who uses a sweeper-keeper style, making risky plays out of goal to create opportunities for her team.

• Legacy or Outlook: Since 2024, Bouhaddi has been playing in the Saudi Women's League, bringing attention and skill to the emerging league.
• Pro Gear Tip: Bouhaddi uses compression shorts under her uniform to enhance muscle performance and improve recovery.

Most Underrated Icon – Briana Scurry

• Born: United States, 1971 (age 54)

Briana Scurry is a legendary pioneering player who played a pivotal role in the U.S. team's 1999 World Cup victory and subsequent two Olympic gold medals in 173 international appearances. She was a pioneer as a skilled player and as an activist, as one of the first black and openly gay professional athletes, and the first female goalkeeper to be inducted into the U.S. National Hall of Fame. After her career, she was highly active in promoting awareness around brain injuries and post-career depression.

• Legacy or Outlook: Scurry is often underrated as her career peaked before women's football became highly popular, though she paved the way for that sport's rise.
• Pro Gear Tip: Briana advocates for preventing head injuries, which can be minimized with protective headbands.

Final Thoughts: What Makes a Great Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper?

What does it take to be a great women's soccer goalie? It is the same qualities that we expect from male players: agility, calm under pressure, a thorough knowledge of the game to read plays, leadership ability to coordinate defense, and a steady pair of hands. But for women, an extra level of determination is required, with male players still earning 50-200 times more than female players. That means that while male players can use a career as a professional football player as a clear pathway to success, for female players, it is still a high-risk choice. That means female players often need significantly more dedication and resilience than their male counterparts.

Fortunately, times are changing, and the dedication of female goalkeepers to date has paved the way for future women's soccer goalies to have more stable and lucrative careers. Does that mean that we can expect future female goalies to smash the records of their predecessors? Hopefully, but only time will tell.

If you are looking for essential gear to take your goalkeeping game to the next level, visit Storelli.com for premium soccer goalie equipment at an affordable price.

FAQs

Who is the best women's soccer goalie?

There are many different subjective opinions out there as to who is the best women's soccer goalie. Arguably, Hope Solo may be the best of all time, representing her country 202 times and paving the way for the U.S. women's soccer team to become the dominant force that it is today. However, many argue that England's Mary Earps is rivalling her success, and still has several years to further build her reputation.

Who is the famous U.S. women's goalkeeper?

Hope Solo is by far the most famous U.S. goalkeeper, consistently representing her country between 2000 and 2016, winning Olympic Gold in 2008 and 2012, plus the FIFA World Cup in 2015, playing every minute of every game to help lead her team to victory. She and Bianca Scurry are the only female goalkeepers to have been inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Who is the greatest goalkeeper ever?

Many people consider Russian player Lev Yashin to be the best goalkeeper of all time because he pioneered many of the techniques that are now considered standard. He is also the only goalkeeper to have won football's most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d'Or, in 1963. On that basis, U.S. player Briana Scurry could be a contender for the greatest female goalkeeper ever as she paved the way for many players both in the U.S. and internationally.

Who is the best goalie in soccer?

Arguably, the best goalkeeper playing today is Alisson Becker, who plays for Liverpool and also represents Brazil. He is known to make game-changing saves and has earned the Yashin trophy for his performance. In 2025, English player Mary Earps is widely considered the best female goalie.