Ranking the 10 greatest goalkeepers with the most penalty saves in the 21st century

#3 Diego Alves - 26 saves

Valencia CF v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

The goalkeeper on this list who has grabbed third-place with 26 penalty saves is Flamengo's Diego Alves. The least famous on the list, Alves has battled some great names to earn his spot.

Starting his journey with a Brazilian club, Alves made his name in La Liga during the decade long stay with Almeria and Valencia. Widely regarded as a penalty specialist, Alves described it as 'a psychological battle between the goalkeeper and the taker'.

Safe to say, he has mastered the art of winning this battle.

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#2 Gianluigi Buffon - 30 saves

Atalanta BC v Juventus - TIMVISION Cup Final

Gianluigi Buffon is undoubtedly one of the icons of the game and there is no argument there. His calmness under pressure and consistency has gained praise from managers and players since the day he made his debut.

Buffon's agility and quick reflexes, despite his towering figure, have earned him the title of the best of this generation. However, he had to settle for a rare runners-up position on this list.

He ranks sixth in the world for the most appearances and is still going strong with 1,142 matches to his name. Buffon has broken every individual record as a goalkeeper and has decorated himself with many trophies as well. However, the only thing missing from his long career is the prestigious Champions League.

Buffon turned 43 this year and has kept a healthy gap from Diego Alves with 30 penalty saves, which he will be hoping to extend further while playing for Parma.

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#1 Samir Handanovic - 38 saves

FC Internazionale v SSC Napoli - Serie A

Behold! The holder of the first-place by a mile. Courtesy of 38 saves, Samir Handanovic is the goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in the 21st century. Surprisingly, the Slovenian can extend his lead further as he is six years younger than his closest challenger.

His outstanding reflexes and level-headedness on the pitch has helped him climb to the summit of this list . Despite his exceptional talent, he struggled to achieve major trophies in his 18-year career.

But his hard work was finally rewarded when Inter Milan won the Serie A title in the 2020-21 season. Handanovic has retired from international football, but he remains the club's primary goalkeeper.