Goalkeepers continued to influence the biggest moments of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with the latest FIFA Power Rankings, powered by Aramco, reflecting a series of decisive performances in the Round of 16.
The FIFA Power Rankings use advanced metrics to measure players’ influence throughout the tournament. Goalkeepers are assessed across two categories: ‘In Possession’, which rewards contributions to build-up play and distribution, and ‘Defending the Goal’, which focuses on actions closest to goal, including saves and goal preventions.
The Round of 16 turned the Power Rankings from a group-stage consistency table into a knockout-impact story. The players at the top are no longer only those who accumulated numbers across easier stretches of the tournament; they are the players who repeated their influence when one match could end everything.
Portugal’s Diogo Costa climbed to the top of the ‘Defending the Goal’ rankings after an impressive display between the sticks in his side’s last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Spain, while Ronwen Williams of South Africa remained at No1 for ‘In Possession’, despite his side exiting the tournament in the Round of 32 at the hands of co-hosts Canada.
Cabo Verde’s Vozinha also exited the tournament in the previous round but only after a thrilling extra-time defeat to holders Argentina. His performance in that game and throughout the tournament helped him remain the best all-round goalkeeper story: second for in possession and seventh for defending the goal.
Here are some of the big climbers from the thrilling Round of 16.
In Possession
Orlando Gill (Paragauay) – 7.12
One of the heroes of Paraguay’s shock elimination of Germany, Gill also stood tall as his nation eventually bowed out against France. Gill kept the match alive with four saves from five shots faced and 15 goal preventions. He also completed seven line breaks. His ranking reflects a goalkeeper asked to survive pressure, defend the goal and still find ways to move the ball forward. He moved up two places into third and is now a dual-category goalkeeper story, sitting third both for both ‘In Possession’ and in ‘Defending the Goal’.
Jordan Pickford (England) – 7.12
Pickford jumped eight places into fourth after a courageous performance in England’s dramatic win over Mexico, playing a key role in the Three Lions’ attacking and defensive displays. The goalkeeper completed ten line breaks and made three saves from five shots faced. England had only 31.5 per cent possession, so the Everton man’s distribution and goal protection both mattered in a match in which the Three Lions had to survive as well as score. Pickford also made a big move in the ‘Defending the Goal’ rankings, climbing 10 places into eighth.
Unai Simon (Spain) – 6.41
The Spain No1 soared 12 places into 10th on the strength of his display against Portugal, where he kept a record-extending fifth consecutive clean sheet in a World Cup. Simon made two saves from two shots faced, completed 29 passes and broke lines eight times. Spain’s defensive authority is not just about preventing shots; it is also about having a goalkeeper who helps keep possession secure after pressure arrives.
Defending the Goal
Diogo Costa (Portugal) – 8.90
The Portugal goalkeeper’s performance is one of the clearest examples of a goalkeeper ranking highly through shot -stopping even when the team loses. Costa made five saves against Spain from six shots faced and recorded 15 goal preventions. Portugal lost 1-0, but the scoreline stayed close because Costa repeatedly dealt with the direct threat on goal. Over his five games Costa saved 19 of 23 attempts faced, making 69 goal preventions.
Gregor Kobel (Switzerland) – 8.22
Kobel remains one of the strongest goal-protection profiles in the tournament, and the Round of 16 meeting with Switzerland reinforced that standing as he climbed two spots into second. He saved all three shots faced during the match and completed 43 of 54 passes before playing his part in Switzerland’s victory in the shootout. The Swiss needed him both as a shot-stopper and as a possession outlet in a cagey match and are sure to be counting on him again in their quarter-final clash with Argentina.
Orjan Nyland (Norway) – 7.57
Nyland soared 18 places into sixth after Norway’s 2-1 win over Brazil. The experienced keeper played a fundamental role in his nation’s historic victory by keeping out Bruno Guimaraes’ first-half penalty, one of four saves he made during the game. Nyland’s performances in North America have been particularly impressive given he only played five La Liga games last season for Sevilla. He also moved up one place for ‘In Possession’, climbing into fifth.
