Published Jun 5, 3:28am ET by
Alex Dudley - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 5, 3:28am ET
Credit: Shutterstock
Updated Jun 5, 3:28am ET
The biggest party of the summer gets underway in the Americas in mid-June, with the best stars from the world of soccer set to compete in the FIFA World Cup.
Each nation involved will have their sights set on winning the prestigious honor, but their success could depend on the goalkeeper that performs to the highest standard.
The top shot-stopper at the competition will pick up the Best Goalkeeper award, and you can find the odds and our pick for this summer’s tournament here.
| Goalkeeper | Odds |
|---|---|
| Emiliano Martinez (Argentina) | +450 |
| Unai Simon (Spain) | +500 |
| Alisson Becker (Brazil) | +550 |
| Mike Maignan (France) | +600 |
| Jordan Pickford (England) | +750 |
| Ederson (Brazil) | +800 |
| David Raya (Spain) | +900 |
| Other Selections | +1000 & Bigger |
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Emiliano Martinez won the Best Goalkeeper award at the 2022 World Cup, and the Aston Villa stopper will once again be key to the nation’s chances this summer. Martinez is expected to keep a high percentage of clean sheets, especially in the group stage.
As a team, Argentina have excelled defensively over the last 12 months, keeping clean sheets in four of their last five internationals. However, given that we expect Argentina’s defense to end early, Martinez could be an unwise selection to win the Best Goalkeeper this summer.
The battle to be Spain’s number one this summer is fascinating, but Unai Simon is expected to get the nod over Arsenal keeper David Raya. Spain’s main strength lies in their attacking quality, and they were far from fluent defensively against higher-ranked nations.
That has been reflected after conceding eight goals in recent meetings against leading contenders such as France, Portugal, and Turkey.
Brazil are another nation that has two outstanding goalkeepers. However, Alisson Becker has been the preferred number one for Carlo Ancelotti throughout his tenure.
The South American nation will need to be more reliable defensively if they are to progress through the tournament, as they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four internationals. Their limitations in the middle of the field will make them vulnerable, and we could foresee Brazil conceding a high volume of goals this summer.
At the odds available, Jordan Pickford could be an outstanding chance. England didn’t concede a goal during qualification, and their chances this summer will be dependent on being difficult to break down. Pickford is one of the most underrated goalkeepers in world soccer, and he enjoyed an excellent season with Everton, averaging 2.58 saves per 90 and a save percentage of 66%.
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Pick
Jordan Pickford (+750)
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