Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma's performances are drawing renewed attention as the club pursues the UEFA Champions League title, highlighting a debate over his overall value despite his shot-stopping strengths. The Italian keeper has played a decisive role in PSG's path through the knockout stages, particularly in games played in England.
Donnarumma's efforts were notable in the penalty shootout victory against Liverpool in the last 16, where he made key saves. Later, against Aston Villa in the quarter-finals, teammates like Ousmane Dembélé praised him as man of the match for his saves, despite the official award going elsewhere. Most recently, against Arsenal in the semi-final first leg, his stops from Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard helped PSG secure a clean sheet.
His size, standing 6ft 5in, contributes to his imposing presence, particularly facing penalties. Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson noted Donnarumma's exceptional positional awareness within his box as a strength, suggesting he uses his frame effectively by staying deeper on his line than many modern keepers. Paul Robinson described a specific save against Trossard as a perfect example of this technique and awareness.
However, Donnarumma's comfort and effectiveness with the ball at his feet remain a point of discussion, as does his command of his area on crosses and set-pieces. Journalist Julien Laurens pointed to past errors against Liverpool, Nice, and particularly the costly mistake against Real Madrid in the 2022 Champions League last 16 as moments that linger for some observers.
The 26-year-old's future at Paris Saint-Germain is also a subject of speculation, with one year remaining on his current contract. While his agent indicates a desire to stay, reports suggest the club is evaluating options. Laurens mentioned Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier as a player PSG's Luis Campos admires, noting Chevalier's passing ability aligns more closely with Coach Luis Enrique's preference for keepers comfortable starting attacks. Acquiring Chevalier could reportedly cost around £50m, while selling Donnarumma might yield £25-30m, creating a financial consideration.
Despite criticisms, some data metrics place Donnarumma highly among the world's goalkeepers. The CIES Football Observatory Index reportedly ranked him first based on performance relative to chances faced. Others, like Robinson, place him in a top tier alongside keepers such as Alisson and Jan Oblak based on an all-around game.
Comparing Donnarumma to Gianluigi Buffon, a keeper he idolized and eventually succeeded for the Italian national team, has been common since his youth debut for AC Milan at age 16. While consistency has been a challenge, Donnarumma has spoken about learning from mistakes and using support, such as from a mental coach, to remain focused.
AC Milan icon Alessandro Costacurta recently defended Donnarumma's value. Costacurta stated that while critics focus on perceived weaknesses off his line, they overlook that he is the best in the world at everything else.
