World Cup stories: Which goalies have kept the most clean sheets at a World Cup?

In football, goalkeepers don't often get the same credit some of their attacking peers get, but on a World Cup stage, there have been plenty of notable names and performances in the tournament's history. 

From trophy-winning captains to penalty-saving heroes, the men between the sticks have had their chance to shine. 

As DAZN News counts down towards the summer, with 63 days to go, we chart the keepers who have racked up the most clean sheets in the competition's history. 

• Read next I 64 days -  Brad Friedel names the best goalkeepers on show at this summer's tournament

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7 clean sheets 

Gilmar (Brazil), Thibaut Courtois (Belgium), Fernando Muslera (Uruguay), Ilker Casillas (Spain), Manuel Neuer (Germany) 

8 clean sheets 

Hugo Lloris (France) 

20 games 

Lloris made his World Cup debut at the 2010 tournament, keeping a clean sheet in France's opening game against Uruguay and going on to be one of the country's greatest ever in his position. 

Two more final appearances followed for the former Spurs stopper, with 2018 being the pinnacle for the keeper, as he captained the French to World Cup glory with a win over Croatia in Russia. 

With 145 caps to his name, no goalie has played for France more times than Lloris.

Taffarel (Brazil)

18 games 

As synonymous with the great 1994 Brazil team as Romario and Bebeto, and not just down to his outlandish 90s goalkeeping kit, Taffarel was actually the South American's number one for three tournaments across the decade.

At Italia 90 he only conceded two goals in the tournament, before he played his part in Brazil's triumph in the States four years later. 

He completed his trio of finals in 1998, where once again Brazil reached the final, helped by Taffarel's two penalty saves against the Netherlands in the semi-finals. 

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Sepp Maier (Germany)

18 games 

A one-club man who played over 700 games for Bayern Munich, Maier was also part of four consecutive World Cup squads for Germany, too. 

In 1966, he was a non-playing understudy to Hans Tilkowski before making the number one spot his own for the 1970 tournament, including the quarter-final win over England. 

But it was at the 1974 finals where Maier was at the peak of his powers, winning the tournament on home soil with success over the Dutch. 

Leao (Brazil)
14 games

Leao began the 1970s as the reserve keeper fro Brazil in Mexico, but by the end of the decade had made history by becoming the first goalie to captain the national side. 

He was the South American's number one for both the 1974 and '78 tournaments, and won 80 caps in total for his country.

Regarded as one of the best Brazilian goalkeepers of all time, Leao has since gone into management, where he's amassed an incredible 31 posts. 

Jan Jongbloed (Netherlands) 
12 games 

The Dutch stopper made only 24 appearances for the Dutch national team during the 1970s, making his inclusion on this list all the more impressive. 

Of those 24 caps, half of them were played at World Cup finals, where Jongbloed was number one as the Netherlands reached the final of both the 1974 and 1978 tournaments.

However, he failed to get his goalie gloves on the famous trophy. 

10 clean sheets 

Peter Shilton (England)
17 games 

No one has played for the Three Lions more times than the great Peter Shilton, and he also jointly holds a World Cup record, too. 

After making his England debut in 1970, Shilton was an international veteran by the time he made his World Cup bow in 1982, and went on to play in two more finals. 

Yet, when it comes to the World Cup, he'll always be remembered for the keeper who Diego Maradona fooled with his 'Hand of God' moment in Mexico. And, yes, Shilts is still bitter about it. 

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Fabien Barthez (France)
17 games 

Joining the Englishman at the top of this list with the most clean sheets in World Cup history is France's goalkeeping icon Fabien Barthez. 

Bartez's World Cup journey began in glorious fashion, with Laurent Blanc kissing his head all the way to lifting the famous trophy at France '98. 

He'd then go to play at both the 2002 tournament as France went out at the group stage and then back all the way to the final once aagin in 2026. 
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