Maduka Okoye has named Gianluigi Donnarumma as the best goalkeeper in world football today, even though the Super Eagles shot-stopper admits Marc-André ter Stegen remains his personal favourite, Footynaija reports.
The Udinese goalkeeper was asked to rank the finest goalkeepers in the game and listed Ter Stegen, Thibaut Courtois and Donnarumma among his top choices. However, when it came to current form and overall impact, the Nigerian international had no doubts about who stands above the rest.
“For me, No. 1 is Ter Stegen, then Courtois and Donnarumma,” Okoye said.
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“Ter Stegen is No. 1 for me because when I was a young player at Borussia Mönchengladbach, he was already playing with the U-19s and I always looked up to him. But right now, I think Donnarumma is the strongest goalkeeper.
“At the moment, he’s the best. He is on a different level.”
Ter Stegen has been worthy of Okoye’s admiration. The Barcelona captain has enjoyed a glittering career in Spain, winning major domestic honours and establishing himself as one of the most reliable goalkeepers of his generation. Courtois, meanwhile, has built a reputation for delivering on the biggest stages, with his standout display in Real Madrid’s 2022 Champions League final triumph over Liverpool remaining one of the defining performances by a goalkeeper in recent years.
Yet it is Donnarumma who has impressed Okoye the most. The Italy international further strengthened his status among football’s elite after playing a crucial role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic Champions League success in the 2024/25 season.
Okoye’s verdict comes at a time when his own career is flourishing again. After difficult years at Watford, the 26-year-old has re-established himself at Udinese, producing a series of strong displays that helped him reclaim the Super Eagles’ number-one shirt.
