The debate continues to divide the football world: should a goalkeeper wear neon colors to distract the striker, or dark tones to stay "hidden"? Thierry Barnerat, video consultant for Thibaut Courtois, shared his expert insight. His verdict? Go for dark colors ! According to FIFA's expert, it all comes down to how a striker processes visual information: "Strikers check the keeper's position before choosing their finish. When they are focused on the ball, they perceive the goalkeeper as a 'shadow' in their upper field of vision. Darker kits make it harder to pinpoint the keeper's exact movement." In the early 2000s, iconic keepers relied on studies suggesting that fluorescent colors acted as a "distraction" or a "target" that drew the striker’s eyes toward the keeper rather than the corners of the net. Today, the data seems to lean toward the "stealth" advantage of darker apparel.
Should a goalkeeper wear bright or dark colours? Thierry Barnerat, Thibaut Courtois' performance analyst, has made his decision / ©Icon Sport