Best of 2025-26: Best Goalkeeper
With the curtain having come down on the 2025/26 Ligue 1 McDonald's season, in a new series, the editorial staff picks their favorite moments of what was a thrilling season, continuing with the Best Goalkeeper. Join George Boxall, Eric Devin and Luke Entwistle for a bumper review.
Robin Risser, RC Lens
Robin Risser arrived at Lens with plenty of promise but relatively little top-flight experience. Although highly regarded within Strasbourg’s system, the French goalkeeper had yet to prove himself in Ligue 1 despite an impressive loan spell at Red Star, where he emerged as one of Ligue 2’s standout performers. Lens’ decision to invest €7m in the 20-year-old therefore carried an element of risk, but it is one that has been emphatically rewarded. Tasked with replacing a dependable predecessor and operating behind a team with lofty ambitions, Risser has looked remarkably assured throughout his first full Ligue 1 campaign.
Best Goalkeeper of the Year… ROBIN RISSER 🧤💫 pic.twitter.com/5rT84TkAI5
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 11, 2026
Calm under pressure and mature beyond his years, he has quickly established himself as a key component of one of the league’s meanest defences. Only Paris Saint-Germain have conceded less goals than Lens this season in Ligue 1, and Risser has been a huge part of that. However, his qualities extend beyond traditional goalkeeping. Comfortable with the ball at his feet and capable of initiating attacks with accurate distribution, Risser embodies the profile of the modern goalkeeper. His confidence in possession allows Lens to build from the back, while his decision-making rarely betrays his age. His call-up for the French national team in time for the World Cup, and a qualification for the Champions League next season has marked a huge nine months in the progression of his fledgling career with Lens. - GB
Berke Özer, LOSC
Following an itinerant start to his career, Lille's new Turkish shot stopper looks to have found his home in the north of France. After playing in Portugal, Belgium, and for a raft of clubs in his homeland, he stood out last season for Istanbul club Eyüpspor, his play strong enough to receive his first senior caps. Joining Lille to replace Lucas Chevalier, he endured a somewhat nervy start to the season, twice conceding three goals in a match, including in a derby loss to Lens.
But as the season wore on, his authority and presence continued to improve, and come the end of the season, he had his side back in the Champions League, and had recorded 17 clean sheets in 44 matches across all competitions, having comfortably made the leap to French football. Despite injuries in his defensive ranks, and a midfield which sometimes lacked mobility, Özer's organizational skills, leadership and shotstopping mark him out as one the division's best in net this season. -ED
OZER’S MASSIVE SAVE 🧤 pic.twitter.com/uhbNqxS2KY
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 7, 2025
Hervé Koffi, Angers SCO
Robin Risser would be an obvious pick here. He signed for Lens from formative club Strasbourg for a nominal fee. Expectations were relatively low, but he led his club into the Champions League and earned himself a spot in Didier Deschamps’ World Cup squad. But his performances, you could argue, pale in comparison to what Hervé Koffi, who departed Lens on loan in search of game time, did at Angers this season. It is no exaggeration to say that the Burkina Faso international was the difference between safety and relegation for Le Sco in Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
Koffi, as his club sought to highlight when he missed out on the UNFP Goalkeeper of the Year award, made the most saves in the top flight, had the highest number of prevented goals, the highest save percentage and ten clean sheets. It is a monumental season that Koffi has just completed. Opta have Koffi having saved 12.9 goals across the course of the season; no goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues has a better figure. Risser is being linked with an exit from Lens, naturally, given his performances. In the event of a departure, Lens have a ready-made replacement - LE
