Few goalkeepers in the world are enjoying as decent a run of form as Milan’s Mike Maignan in recent weeks and now the question has become are there any better performing keepers on the planet right now?
The Rossoneri are a completely different team with Maignan between the sticks. They missed him dearly in his four-and-a-half month layoff through initially unfeared calf injury.
The underlying numbers since Maignan’s return to the Giuseppe Meazza pitch at the end of February prove that Milan have improved overall on their defensive performances.
During the 16 Serie A matches that Maignan missed this season, Milan shipped 22 goals, averaging 1.37 per game.
Stefano Pioli’s side have conceded 16 goals in 17 games across all competitions when Maignan has been between the sticks at an average of 0.94 per game.
In the eight games since the Frenchman’s return, including two in the Champions League knockout rounds, the Milan defence have only let five goals in, coming out at 0.63 goals per game.
Maignan has impressed at international level too, particularly after a series of stunning saves against the Republic of Ireland during the most recent break in March.
Each passing game at club level seems to produce a moment of Maignan magic, with stunning saves against Napoli, Fiorentina and Atalanta in recent weeks.
But how are the other goalkeepers in Europe’s top flights faring so far this season?
The recent international break proved that Maignan is currently the number one choice of French goalkeepers.
In Ligue Un, his biggest competitor is arguably the man who he came in to replace, Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma. Milan fans might argue that Maignan has proved to be an upgrade over this season.
In Germany, Manuel Neuer would arguably still sit on the Bundesliga goalkeeping throne, but the Bayern stalwart’s season is already over through injury.
In the Premier League the debate has often centred around Brazilian duo Alisson and Ederson. The former has not been at his best in an underperforming Liverpool this season, so Ederson, or potentially Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale are arguably the current favourites in England.
Maignan’s biggest competition for the world no.1 title probably comes from Spain, in the form of Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian picked up The Best Goalkeeper award at the FIFA ceremony in February and looks to claim a second consecutive Champions League title this season.
Maignan, Courtois, Ederson, Alisson, Ramsdale or Donnaruma – who would you pick?