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There’s an incredible collection of goalkeeping talent to choose from in Serie A history
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We’ve narrowed it down to the 10 best Serie A goalkeepers of all-time
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Who would make your list?
Italy has a reputation for producing world class goalkeepers.
It’s no surprise that the majority of our 10 greatest Serie A goalkeepers list is made up of Italians, but others have made their way into the group, including a veteran still appearing in football bets today.
Interest in Serie A odds isn’t at its highest after the glory years of the 1990s and early 2000s. That era has plenty of representation in this piece, though a handful have made it from more recent seasons, too.
10) Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff was voted the third-best goalkeeper of the 20th century by IFFHS, behind only Lev Yashin and Gordon Banks. He won six Scudetti with Juventus, and was a champion of Europe and the world with Italy.
A second-placed finish in the Ballon d’Or is a mark of greatness. Zoff was not only brilliant – he was incredibly durable, playing in 330 consecutive matches for the Old Lady.
From early in his career, it was clear that Zoff had everything required to be a near-perfect goalkeeper. He anticipated sublimely, he could collect with ease, and he had a calm, yet effective, leadership style.
9) Francesco Toldo
Despite coming through the youth ranks with Milan, Francesco Toldo spent the vast majority of his senior career with Fiorentina and Inter.
He played 336 times for the former and 224 times for the latter, winning five Serie A titles and 2000 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year.
Adept with the ball at his feet and surprisingly athletic for a man of his size, Toldo’s career has perhaps been overlooked due to the strength of Italian goalkeeping at the time.
In another era, he’s regarded as a legend of the game with over 100 caps.
8) Gianluigi Buffon
What is there to say about Gianluigi Buffon? Across four stints with Parma and Juventus, Buffon has amassed the most appearances in Serie A history.
He won a record 10 titles with the Old Lady, owns countless Juventus, Serie A and Italy records, and has been named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year 12 times.
As consistent as they come, Buffon was a masterful shot-stopper with elite positioning, anticipation and leadership.
Named to the UEFA Team of the Year five times between 2003 and 2017, Buffon had a lengthy prime, and he’s got the individual honours to show for it.
7) Dida
Dida is a two-time Champions League winner and one of the best goalkeepers of the 21st century (IFFHS voted the Brazilian sixth in that category).
Named FIFPro Goalkeeper of the Year in 2005, Dida also had an impact beyond Milan. He helped break down racial prejudices against goalkeepers in Brazil, becoming the first Afro-Brazilian ‘keeper to start for the Canarinho in 50 years.
While he made some high-profile mistakes, Dida was an exceptional goalkeeper for the majority of his time in Lombardy, commanding his area and providing a calming presence.
6) Samir Handanovic
One of the current favourites in Serie A tips, Samir Handanovic has been exceptional over his near-decade in Serie A with Udinese and Inter.
Finally winning a Scudetto with Inter in 2020-21, Handanovic is deep into his thirties, yet remains one of the best goalkeepers on the planet.
Three selections to the Serie A Team of the Year reflects how great he has been at San Siro, though he hasn’t necessarily got the acclaim he deserves outside of Italy.
5) Júlio César
Twice named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year, Júlio César was part of the spine of a dominant Inter team in the late-noughties.
While he’s unlikely to feature in a Serie A all-time XI, César is well-deserving of a place among the 10 best goalkeepers in the history of Italian football.
While he had just 228 Serie A appearances, César was among the elite at his position throughout his time in Italy.
The Brazilian won five Scudetti and was twice named Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year. Others might have the longevity, but César had the peak performance to earn a place among the greatest Serie A goalkeepers of all-time.
4) Sebastiano Rossi
Starting out at Cesena, Sebastiano Rossi is best known for his 12 seasons with Milan. He played for the Rossoneri between 1990 and 2002, a period of dominance for the club from Lombardy, as they won five Scudetti and a Champions League.
Rossi holds the record for the fewest goals conceded in a 34-match Serie A season with 11.
He wasn’t the most talented goalkeeper of his generation, and a fiery personality got him into trouble with the officials on occasion, but Rossi’s mobility was crucial to Milan’s high line and he had a tendency to pull off special saves when his team needed him most.
Milan might have had better goalkeepers. The club’s success in Serie A predictions during Rossi’s tenure ensures he’s one of the greatest, however.
3) Gianluca Pagliuca
Many all-time great goalkeepers are famed for sticking at one or two clubs for long periods. Gianluca Pagliuca was more of a journeyman than many of his peers here, yet that doesn’t diminish what he achieved in the game.
Pagliuca played over 200 times for each of Bologna, Inter and Sampdoria. He’s a two-time winner of the Guerin d'Oro, and played a vital role in Sampdoria winning their first league title.
The sheer depth of Italian goalkeeping throughout his career meant Pagliuca notched only 39 caps for Italy, but that shouldn’t downplay just how great he was.
2) Angelo Peruzzi
Having played more Serie A games than Franco Baresi and the same amount as Alessandro del Piero, Angelo Peruzzi checks the box for longevity. He wasn’t short on quality either.
Standing at just 5’11, though, Peruzzi had doubters in the early years of his career, and he was initially a backup at Juventus after making just 26 appearances for Roma in a three-season span.
When Juventus sold first choice Stefano Tacconi to Genoa, Peruzzi became the starter and never looked back. He won three titles and a Champions League with the Old Lady, and even landed the Guerin d'Oro in 1997.
Joining Inter for a year at the turn of the century, Peruzzi remained a regular starter at San Siro and then in Rome with Lazio until his retirement in 2007.
1) Walter Zenga
Before a well-travelled career in management including stops in Wolverhampton and Belgrade, Walter Zenga was one of the greatest Serie A goalkeepers of all-time.
Zenga played for numerous Italian clubs, though the majority of his appearances were for Inter.
He won two UEFA Cups and a Scudetto with Nerazzuri in the early-1990s, and he won IFFHS World’s Best Goalkeeper three times in a row between 1989 and 1991.
An explosive athlete, Zenga was a fun goalkeeper to watch with an incredible talent for shot stopping. While not the most complete ‘keeper by modern standards, he was capable of the spectacular that only a handful can even imagine pulling off.
