In the game of similar opponents, they are the ones who make a difference. They have a different perspective on the game from the rest of the team. And many of them have a different perspective on life 🙂 These are the candidates for the best goalkeepers in the last 20 years, pick your favorite!
Ashleigh Johnson
National team: USA
One of the youngest candidates in this year’s election, but totally deserved to find a place among these legends. Olympic gold from Rio 2016, gold medals from WC 2015 and 2019, Panam winner in Lima 2019 and the winner of the Total Player Award 2019. Everything she touches turns to gold! VOTE
Patricia Horvath
National team: Hungary
Patrícia Horvath has undoubtedly left an impact on Hungarian water polo: she joined the national team in 2001, winning the World Championships in 2002 and 2003, and finishing second in 2004. Hungary also came in fourth at the 2008 Summer Olympics, but Horvath was pronounced the tournament’s best goalkeeper. VOTE
Laura Ester Ramos
National team: Spain
Laura Ester Ramos hails from Spain, a country for which she won a silver Olympic medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Spain also won a gold medal at the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona with Laura’s help. She holds two European Championship titles: one from 2014, and the current title won this January in Budapest, Hungary! VOTE
Francesca Conti
National team: Italy
One of the most decorated water polo players in the world, having won numerous titles during her years playing for Italy. These include the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, two World Championships (1998, 2001), and one European title (1999). So many wins, and we didn’t even list them all. VOTE
Elizabeth Armstrong
National team: USA
Elizabeth “Betsey” Armstrong, a member of the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame, is the leading goalkeeper in Olympic water polo history! With 102 saves, she has undoubtedly influenced her team’s many gold medals: while Elizabeth was active, the USA won gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics, 2007 and 2011 Pan American Games, and were the 2007 and 2009 World Champions. VOTE
Rachel Riddell
National team: Canada
Rachel Riddell comes from Canada, a country for which she played at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Riddell was awarded best goalkeeper of the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Italy when Canada won the silver medal. Since 2003 she has been a member of Canada’s senior women’s water polo team, winning bronze at the 2005 World Championships and silver at the Commonwealth Games in 2006. VOTE
Denis Sefik
National teams: Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro)/Serbia/Montenegro
Playing for the national teams of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) and Serbia won 15 medals at the FINA and LEN competitions, including Olympic silver (2004) and bronze (2008), the title of the World Champion (2005), three gold medals at the Europeans (2001, 2003, 2006). Sefik’s most prominent achievement at club level was the trophy in the 2013 Champions League with Crvena Zvezda. The daily “Sport “voted Sefik for the best athlete of Serbia and Montenegro in 2004. VOTE
Josip Pavic
National team: Croatia
Pavic was voted the best water polo player of the year in 2012 by FINA. He won the Olympic gold (2012), the Olympic bronze (2016), the 2007 World Championships title, the gold at the 2010 European Championship and nine more medals at major competitions with Croatia. He was Croatia’s captain from 2013 to 2016. As a captain of Olympiacos, he lifted the winning trophy of the 2018 Champions League and was voted the MVP of the Final Eight tournament. VOTE
Stefano Tempesti
National team: Italy
For almost 20 years, he was a member of the Italian national team and won 10 medals at FINA and LEN championships and cups. He has two Olympic medals (silver in 2012 and bronze in 2016) and gold from the 2011 World Championships. He has played for Pro Recco for most of his career and won five Champions Leagues (2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2015). In 2011, he received the LEN Award for the best European water polo player of Europe and was voted the Water Polo Player of the Year by the Swimming World Magazine. VOTE
Zoltan Szecsi
National team: Hungary
Szecsi won three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games as Hungary’s goalie (2000,2004, 2008). He collected 17 medals playing for Hungary. Besides three Olympic titles, Szecsi has four gold medals: the World Championships (2003), the FINA World Cup (1999), and two in the World League (2003 and 2004). VOTE
Frano Vican
National team: Croatia
Vican was one of the best players of the team of Croatia, which won gold at the 2007 World Championships. He was also a member of Croatia’s gold medal-winning team at 2012 Olympics and won two silvers at the European Championships. VOTE
Viktor Nagy
National team: Hungary
Representing Hungary, Nagy has won 11 medals at big competitions, including two golds (the 2013 World Championships and the 2020 European Championships). He clinched the trophy in the 2017 Champions League playing for Szolnok. The Swimming World Magazine picked Nagy for the 2013 Water Polo Player of the Year. VOTE
Slobodan Soro
National teams: Serbia and Montenegro/Serbia/Brazil
Slobodan Soro made three Olympic appearances and has two bronze medals with Serbia (2008 and 2012). As a goalkeeper of Serbia, he won 14 medals at FINA and LEN major tournaments. Among them are nine golds (at the 2009 World Championships, at the 2006 and 2012 European Championships, at the 2010 World Cup and five titles in the World League). Soro finished 3rd at the 2019 Pan American Games, playing for Brazil. He was a member of two winning teams in the Champions League – Becej in 2000, and Partizan in 2011. VOTE
Branislav Mitrovic
Branislav Mitrovic
National team: Serbia
Mitrovic debuted for the senior national team of Serbia with a gold medal at the 2012 European Championship. Since 2012, he has won 13 trophies with Serbia, including the Olympic title (2016), four European golds (2012 2014, 2016, 2018), six titles in the World League, and the World Champion title 2015. VOTE
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