Penalty kicks are football’s ultimate test of nerves. For the striker, it’s a chance to score with the odds heavily in their favor. For the goalkeeper, it’s an opportunity to become a hero. While most penalties find the back of the net, there are a handful of goalkeepers who have turned saving them into an art form.
Much like spinning a roulette wheel at Harry Casino UK Slots, taking a penalty is a gamble where the margins are razor thin — and only the bravest come out on top. Here’s a look at the ten goalkeepers with the most penalty saves in football history.
10. Frank Rost – 20 saves
Known as “The Bremen Wall,” Rost was a Bundesliga veteran with spells at Werder Bremen, Schalke 04, and Hamburger SV before finishing his career in MLS with New York Red Bulls. His penalty-stopping ability was legendary in Germany, making him one of the toughest keepers strikers had to face from the spot.
9. Benoît Costil – 20 saves
The French veteran made his name at Rennes and later captained Bordeaux. Costil racked up over 200 appearances in Ligue 1 and even earned France caps. Throughout his career, he consistently frustrated penalty takers, denying 20 spot-kicks across club and international football.
8. Petr Čech – 21 saves
A Premier League icon, Čech’s story is as much about resilience as it is about excellence. After a near-fatal head injury in 2006, he returned with the trademark helmet and went on to keep more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in Premier League history.
Alongside his 200 clean sheets, he also saved 21 penalties, including crucial moments for Chelsea in domestic and European competition.
7. Mickaël Landreau – 21 saves
The French goalkeeper still holds the record for most Ligue 1 appearances (618). Reliable and consistent, Landreau was a nightmare in penalty situations, famously stopping Ronaldinho in a cup tie against PSG. His longevity and sharp instincts earned him a spot among the best shot-stoppers of his generation.
6. Iker Casillas – 23 saves
“San Iker” built his reputation on big saves in big moments. Casillas was the backbone of Real Madrid and Spain for more than a decade, winning three Champions League titles and the 2010 World Cup.
He saved 23 penalties in his career, with perhaps the most famous coming against Ireland’s Ian Harte at the 2002 World Cup, a moment that announced him as a world-class goalkeeper.
5. Andrea Consigli – 25 saves
One of Serie A’s most underrated keepers, Consigli built a reputation as a penalty specialist during his time at Atalanta and Sassuolo. With 25 saves, he ranks among the top penalty stoppers in Italian football history.
His sharp reflexes and ability to read opponents made him invaluable for mid-table sides fighting above their weight.
4. Manuel Neuer – 25 saves
Often described as the best goalkeeper of the modern era, Neuer revolutionized the position with his “sweeper-keeper” style. But beyond his passing and presence, he’s also a master of penalties.
With 25 saves to his name, he’s denied some of the best in the world, from Mesut Özil to Robert Lewandowski. Neuer’s ability to deliver under pressure also helped Germany win the 2014 World Cup.
3. Diego Alves – 28 saves
The Brazilian is arguably the most feared penalty stopper in La Liga history. While at Valencia, Alves stopped some of the greatest names in football: Messi, Ronaldo, and Griezmann among them. ,
His 28 saves came with a remarkable success rate, proving that he thrived in one-on-one psychological battles.
2. Gianluigi Buffon – 30 saves
Buffon’s career spanned over two decades, and his consistency was unmatched. From saving Luis Figo’s penalty in Euro 2000 to countless stops for Juventus in Serie A, Buffon finished with 30 penalties denied.
1. Samir Handanović – 38 saves
The undisputed king of penalties. Handanović’s 38 saves put him at the top of this list, and many came against world-class strikers. The Slovenian built his reputation at Udinese before becoming a key figure for Inter Milan. At his peak, he once saved six penalties in a single season, a testament to his instincts and preparation.
