Best of the half-season: Goalkeeper
As we prepare for the return of Ligue 1 McDonald's this weekend, our team of writers have selected some of their favorites of the season's first half. Hear from Eric, George & Luke as they talk about their best moments before the season resumes, continuing with our picks for the best goalkeeper.
Eric: Hervé Koffi, Angers
Things have well and truly come full circle for Hervé Koffi. The Burkina Faso international joined Lille in 2017 but struggled for game time behind Mike Maignan, eventually leaving to join Belgian side Charleroi. He rejoined the French top flight last summer with Lens but was unable to capitalize on the departure of Brice Samba, losing out to veteran stopper Mathew Ryan. Loaned to Angers after Le SCO lost Yahia Fofana, he's helped them be comfortably midtable with the division's fifth-best defence, with just one goal conceded in his last four starts.
George: Robin Risser, RC Lens
The Frenchman was on the books of Strasbourg in the summer, but lacked Ligue 1 experience despite providing some outstanding performances for Red Star in Ligue 2 BKT last season. A €7m move to Lens looks to have paid off for Robin Risser who is now the last line in the league's best defence this season so far, having only let in 13 goals since the start of the campaign. Confident, young, and with an eye for a pass, he is the perfect profile and embodiment of the modern goalkeeper.
Robin Risser, la muraille de Lens 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yzwteMze9r
— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) December 30, 2025
Luke: Hervé Koffi, Angers
Hervé Koffi couldn’t make the No.1 jersey his own at Lens, but he has been excellent since joining Angers on loan. He has certainly passed the eye test but his underlying numbers make him the best in Ligue 1… and the best in Europe. No goalkeeper in Ligue 1 has made more saves, but more importantly, he has the best post-shot-expected-goals in the league and in Europe’s top five leagues. That is the true measure of goalkeeper performance and Koffi passes with flying colours.
