Who has the most clean sheets in football?

A look at which player has the most clean sheets in football, plus how goalkeepers and teams rack them up across different leagues and eras.

Clean sheets don’t always get the spotlight, but they’re often the reason teams win titles and stay competitive over long seasons. Scoring goals is important, but keeping them out usually decides how far a team goes.

When people talk about clean sheet records, the same names tend to come up. That’s because these records are built slowly over long careers, through consistency rather than brief flashes of brilliance.

Context matters too. League, era, and role all shape how these numbers add up, so let’s see what the stats tell us.

What is a clean sheet?

Before we dive into the records, it helps to clarify what a clean sheet actually is.

A clean sheet is recorded when a team finishes a match without conceding a goal. Clean sheets apply across league fixtures, domestic cup competitions, and international football. A 0–0 draw awards a clean sheet to both sides. A 1–0 result awards a clean sheet only to the winning team.

Substitutions don’t affect clean sheet records. If a player is on the pitch at the final whistle and the opposition haven’t scored, the clean sheet stands. The definition is simple, but maintaining one across a full match is not.

Who has the most clean sheets of all time?

At the very top of the game, two names dominate the conversation.

Across club and international football, Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon are widely recognised as the goalkeepers with the most clean sheets in professional football history.

Both recorded well over 400 clean sheets across their careers, built through regular selection and long spells at elite clubs. From the 2000s onwards, Casillas leads the way with roughly 440 clean sheets, narrowly ahead of Buffon, who sits close behind on around 420.

These totals weren’t built quickly, and came from season after season of consistent performances, often behind well-organised defences, with very little rotation.

Pretty mind-blowing numbers that slowly stacked up over time.

Who has the most clean sheets in the Premier League?

In Premier League history, the clean sheet record belongs to Petr Čech, who kept 202 clean sheets during spells with Chelsea and Arsenal.

Čech played behind some of the league’s most organised defensive formations, particularly during Chelsea’s most dominant periods. Defensive structure, positioning, and game management all contributed to that record, but that takes nothing away from just how outstanding Čech was in goal.

It’s why Petr Čech’s total remains unmatched and he’s widely regarded as one of the best keepers of all time.

Who has the most clean sheets for England?

The overall England record belongs to Peter Shilton, who kept 66 clean sheets in 125 appearances between 1970 and 1990.

More recently, Jordan Pickford has added his own mark to the record books. Pickford became the first England goalkeeper to record 10 consecutive clean sheets in competitive matches, a run achieved against strong opposition in high-stakes fixtures.

The last time Pickford conceded a competitive goal was on October 10, 2024, when England suffered a 2-1 home loss to Greece in the UEFA Nations League.

Why clean sheet records vary by competition

Clean sheet totals change depending on context.

League football rewards consistency across long seasons. International football allows fewer matches and limited prep time. Domestic cups can inflate or suppress clean sheet numbers depending on the quality of the opposition.

Tactical trends also influence clean sheet records. Modern teams tend to take greater risks, which exposes space behind the back line. Earlier eras favoured deeper defensive shapes, making clean sheets easier to sustain over longer runs.

Why clean sheets still matter

Goals tend to draw attention, but defensive records are arguably the key to long-term success.

A clean sheet guarantees at least a point. Across a season, clean sheets stabilise results, protect narrow leads, and reduce pressure elsewhere on the pitch. For goalkeepers, high clean sheet totals often reflect reliability and consistency, which gives the rest of the team breathing room.

Clean sheet records don’t capture every defensive contribution, but they remain one of the clearest indicators of organisation at the back.

Track defensive performances and win while you watch with Match Bingo

Clean sheets are built through small moments that add up across a match. Clearances, blocks, saves, and positioning all matter long before the final whistle.

Match Bingo tracks those defensive actions live. Our boards react to goalkeeping and defensive moments, helping you follow how a clean sheet is developing during the game.

If you enjoy watching football through that lens, this is where to do it.

Download the app now and play along.