How Mike Maignan Became One of the Best Goalkeepers in Europe
It has been quite the meteoric rise for Mike Maignan. Born on 3 July 1995 in Cayenne, French Guiana, to a Haitian mother and a Guadeloupean father, Maignan moved to Paris at an early age and became a naturalized French citizen in 2001. He would join Paris Saint-Germain’s academy at the age of 14, honing his skills at the youth level and even appearing in matchday squads, but he was unable to make an appearance for Les Parisiens.
Desperate for a first-team opportunity, Maignan headed north for Lille OSC in 2015, initially serving as a backup to Nigerian veteran Vincent Enyeama and patiently waiting his turn. After a few years of adaptation and working hard to develop his game, Maignan finally got his chance to impress in the summer of 2017 following the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa and quickly excelled between the sticks.
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He played a key role in helping them avoid relegation before leading them to an impressive second-place finish the following season with a stellar campaign that saw him concede just 30 goals, keep 17 clean sheets, produce 233 saves, and save three penalties. Despite missing out on the league title, it was Maignan who was elected Goalkeeper of the Year in the Trophées UNFP du football rather than PSG’s Alphonse Areola and Gianluigi Buffon.
However, Maignan’s breakthrough season came in the 2020-2021 season, demonstrating his shot-stopping abilities, poise, and leadership in goal, helping Lille win their first Ligue 1 title in a decade, and denying PSG of a fourth consecutive championship. Not only did he manage to edge his boyhood club to the championship, but he kept 21 clean sheets, one short of the Ligue 1 record.
His exploits for Lille drew attention from around Europe, and in the summer of 2021, AC Milan signed him as their new goalkeeper following Gianluigi Donnarumma’s departure to PSG on a free transfer. Maignan’s early career demonstrates his resilience and consistent improvement, culminating in his climb to become one of Europe’s most dependable goalkeepers.
Maignan’s imposing presence, quick reflexes, and leadership helped to strengthen their defence, and his ability to organize the backline and make key saves gained him the trust of both the squad and management. One year after ending Lille’s decade-long title drought, Maignan’s confident performances in goal helped Milan win their first league title in 11 years, with the Rossoneri edging Inter to the championship on the final day of the campaign.
He was voted as the Best Goalkeeper in Serie A in each of his first two seasons in Italy and helped Milan reach the UEFA Champions League semifinals in 2023, and in total, he has conceded 119 goals in 115 appearances and kept 45 clean sheets for the Rossoneri. However, the biggest question mark regarding Maignan pertains to his injury record: since joining Milan, he has missed a total of 246 days and 52 matches due to injury. Last season, Maignan suffered five different injuries ranging from his finger to his adductor to knee and thigh.
And yet, that hasn’t stopped Didier Deschamps from handing him the keys in the French national team. After losing the 2022 World Cup Final to Argentina, Hugo Lloris announced his international retirement, and it didn’t take long for Deschamps to select Maignan as his successor in goal. Known for his calm demeanour, shot-stopping ability, and stellar distribution, Maignan proved instrumental in France’s run to this summer’s Euros semifinals and was elected as the best goalkeeper in the tournament.
From Guillaume Restes to Lucas Chevalier to Illan Meslier, from Yehvann Diouf to Albin Lafont, there is certainly no shortage of young, hungry French goalkeepers who are looking to challenge for the starting spot, but it’s going to take them some doing as they look to beat him out for the position. Today, we’re taking a look at what makes Maignan one of the best goalkeepers in Europe.
Data for the visualizations used in this analysis piece have been taken from Fbref.
One of Maignan’s biggest talents is his ability to stop shots. Throughout his career, he has consistently been one of the finest goalkeepers in terms of save percentage. During Lille’s title-winning season in 2020-2021, Maignan maintained 21 clean sheets, the most in Ligue 1, with a save percentage of more than 78%. He sustained this form throughout his time with AC Milan, where he continued to make crucial saves in crucial games, cementing his status as one of the league’s best keepers.
In addition to his shot-stopping ability, Maignan is well-known for his ball distribution as well as his shot-stopping ability. His passing accuracy frequently surpasses 80%, and he is adept at both short and long passes, making him a valuable asset for teams who tend to build from the back. Moreover, his ability to initiate counterattacks with precise long balls adds a new dimension to his game.
Maignan also has good mastery of his penalty area. At 1.91 metres tall, he dominates aerial duels, particularly in set-piece scenarios. His confidence in going forward to claim crosses relieves strain on his defenders. Furthermore, Maignan has built a reputation for his penalty-saving abilities, sometimes making crucial saves in high-pressure circumstances. At €16.4 million, he has proven to be money well spent for the Italian giants.
A significant success factor for the 29-year-old shot-stopper is his ability to rapidly step out of his line to close gaps while not doing so simultaneously. In each of the images above, the last line of defence is broken when a pass is played, increasing the chances of scoring.
However, Maignan is quick and precise enough to go out of his position and down towards the ball, preventing the opposition’s possibilities. A decent keeper knows when to leave his line, while outstanding keepers know when to hold back and close down angles in order to close the gaps.
The last line of defence is broken as the attacker escapes the grasp of his marker, but the defender nevertheless remains in close pursuit and applies pressure to the striker. Due to the defender closing him down, Maignan decided to quickly cover the space and minimize the shooting angle. In doing so, he is well-positioned to block the shot — he has found the perfect balance to enable him to keep up the pressure and stay in close proximity whilst also being able to react and scoop up the ball if the attacker takes an additional touch.
Maignan’s high footballing IQ and shrewd decision-making in critical situations have enabled him to acquire the trust of France and Milan fans alike and become a true leader in between the sticks. He adds enormous stability to whatever team he plays for thanks to his dominating presence and consistent performances. His ability to organize the defence, dominate the penalty area, and deliver consistently in critical situations inspires confidence in both his teammates and the coaching staff.
He excels in high-pressure situations, such as penalty shootouts and important match moments, frequently making crucial saves to keep his team in the game. Furthermore, his poise with the ball at his feet enables the squad to launch attacks from behind without fear of losing control. Maignan’s combination of consistency and dependability in high-pressure situations makes him a great asset for his team, providing the defence with security and boosting his teammates’ confidence.
However, Maignan has room for improvement in certain areas. His decision-making when rushing off his line is occasionally hazardous, and better judgment in these situations would improve his game. Furthermore, while he excels at close-range saves, long-range shots occasionally test him, implying that he might improve his positioning and reflexes against such shots.
Maignan’s contract is due to expire in 2026, and in order to avoid a similar situation to Donnarumma, Franck Kessié, Alessio Romagnoli or Hakan Çalhanoğlu, it is imperative that Milan agree a new deal or move him on in the next few months. Maignan is reportedly asking for €7-8m per season, well above Rafael Leão (Milan’s top earner at €5m), as well as the €5.5m maximum that Milan are willing to offer.
His injury concerns could force Milan’s hand and prompt them to cash in on him rather than extend a new offer. When Christian Pulisic opened the scoring on Tuesday, Maignan dropped to the floor writhing in pain after feeling some discomfort in his thigh. After clattering into both Diogo Jota and Fikayo Tomori, Maignan suffered a nasty cut to his thigh and was forced off in the 51st minute of their 3-1 defeat to Liverpool.
It remains to be seen whether or not Maignan will be fit enough to start Sunday’s Derby della Madonnina, but one thing’s certain: Milan cannot afford to lose another key player for free. The time is now to either tie him down to a new contract or attempt to squeeze maximum value out of their French goalkeeper.
By: Sive Vishwa / @sive_vishwa
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Image Photo Agency / Getty Images