No single player can win a World Cup alone, but a great goalkeeper can certainly win his team a match or two. Think of Emiliano Martínez's iconic last-minute save at Qatar 2022, Iker Casillas' denial of Arjen Robben in 2010 or Oliver Kahn's performances at Korea Japan 2002.
When it comes to who'll finish the 2026 World Cup with the fewest goals in the back of the net, there are several names that come up. Here's a breakdown of why traders are buying their positions, and the things you should keep in mind before jumping in.
Most Clean Sheets at World Cup 2026 Odds
Who's Leading Prediction Markets?
Emiliano Martínez (Argentina)
The Aston Villa man is the reigning Golden Glove holder and comes into the tournament as the general market favorite.
"Dibu" is a psychological titan in tournament football. With Argentina, the defending champions and top-ranked team in the global soccer rankings, it practically guarantees the Albiceleste will go deep into the bracket and give him a high volume of matches to stack up clean sheets.
However, since he's the favorite, you are buying at the absolute peak of the market. There’s also a recent fitness concern: he fractured a finger in the warm-up right before Aston Villa’s Europa League final. While he played through it to lift the trophy and is largely expected to be back in shape for Argentina's opener, any lingering hand issues remain a risk.
Mike Maignan (France)
Maignan took over the mantle from Hugo Lloris and is close behind Martínez's favorite position.
He has arguably the best protection in front of him. France boasts an incredibly deep, star-studded defensive line that limits the high-quality chances opponents create. Individually, Maignan is an elite reflex shot-stopper who commands his penalty box beautifully.
France has shown a few uncharacteristic defensive lapses in their recent international friendlies leading up to the tournament, conceding goals against the likes of Northern Ireland and the Ivory Coast. If those communication issues carry into the group stage, a single cheap goal ruins your clean sheet contract.
Jordan Pickford (England)
Pickford is a fascinating case because, while he's been prone to the occasional blunder in his club football, his performances for England have historically been elite, with some unbelievable saves for the Three Lions—remember that flying fingertip save vs. Colombia in 2018?
The stats don't lie. Pickford recently broke records by keeping 9 consecutive clean sheets for England, going 810 minutes without letting in a single goal. He has 43 clean sheets in over 80 caps. He simply turns into a different beast when wearing the Three Lions shirt.
However, England’s defense looks the worst among the favorites on paper, lacking star power this time around. Furthermore, with Thomas Tuchel taking over the tactical reins, any growing pains or structural shifts could force Pickford to face far more shots than he is used to. One slip-up from a rotating backline can instantly burn your position.
Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
"Bono" arrived as a bit of an unknown quantity at the 2022 World Cup, but he left a national hero after incredible performances, particularly against Spain and Portugal in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals.
Morocco’s entire identity is built on a highly disciplined, compact low-block system. They make life miserable for opposing attackers. Back in 2022, Bounou conceded only a single goal throughout the group stage and the knockout rounds against powerhouse teams like Spain and Portugal. If Morocco replicates that defensive chokehold, he will rack up shutouts quickly.
The biggest risk is the team's ceiling. Clean-sheet markets heavily favor goalkeepers whose teams play the most games. If Morocco faces a tough knockout draw and is eliminated early, Bounou's clean sheet count will get capped. Additionally, he has spent the last few seasons playing for Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, so he hasn't been tested by elite European club attackers week in, week out ahead of the tournament.
