Navas started his youth career atSaprissa in his home country, where he won sixLiga FPD titles. He subsequently moved to Spanish clubAlbacete in 2010, and then toLevante inLa Liga the following year, where he won the LFP Award for Best Goalkeeper in his final season with the latter club. Navas later joinedReal Madrid in 2014 for €10 million, where he won a total of twelve titles,[9] including oneLa Liga and three consecutiveUEFA Champions League titles as the first choice goalkeeper.[10] In 2019, he was signed by French clubParis Saint-Germain, and would play in hisfourth Champions League final in his first season with the side.[11]
Navas has made over 120 appearances for Costa Rica since debuting in 2008. He has represented the country at threeCONCACAF Gold Cups and the2014,2018, and2022 editions of theFIFA World Cup. He was a Costa Rica national team member who reached the semi-finals of the2009 Gold Cup, in which he was named best goalkeeper. His impressive performances also helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 2014.[12]
In July 2010, Navas signed withAlbacete Balompié of theSegunda División inSpain precisely 20 years after countrymanLuis Conejo, who occupied the same position.[20] He played in 36 games out of 42 duringhis first season, but his team suffered relegation after finishing in last position.
In the2011–12 campaign, Navas reachedLa Liga, being loaned toLevante UD for a year.[21] He made his debut in the competition on 13 May 2012 in the last round, playing in a 3–0 home win againstAthletic Bilbao that confirmed the club's first everqualification for theUEFA Europa League,[22] and joined the Valencian club on a three-year contract in July of that year.[23] Despite initially being back-up toGustavo Munúa,[24] Navas was the first-choice goalkeeper for Levante in the 2013–14 season, and was nominated as the league's best goalkeeper alongsideThibaut Courtois ofAtlético Madrid andWilly Caballero ofMálaga CF,[25] going on to win the prize.[26] In March 2014, he wasLa Liga Player of the Month, the first goalkeeper to win the accolade.[27] He finished the season as the goalkeeper with the most saves (267) in La Liga,[28] finishing fourth in theZamora Trophy conceding 39 goals in 36 games despite playing for a 'lower ranked' team.[29]
On 3 August 2014,Real Madrid triggered Navas' €10 million buyout clause,[30] and he signed a six-year contract with the club.[31] His first competitive call-up was on 12 August, sitting on the bench asIker Casillas played in the2014 UEFA Super Cup, which Real Madrid won 2–0 againstSevilla at theCardiff City Stadium.[32] Navas was given his debut for the club on 23 September, in a 5–1 victory overElche at theSantiago Bernabéu.[33] He was given hisChampions League debut on 26 November, keeping a clean sheet in a 0–1 away win against Swiss sideFC Basel.[34] On 20 December, he was on the bench as his team won theClub World Cup, defeatingClub Atlético San Lorenzo inthe final in Morocco.[35] His performances for Levante in the previous La Liga season andCosta Rica in the 2014 World Cup led him win Player of the Year at the2014 CONCACAF Awards,[36] earning the dual distinction of the first Costa Rican and goalkeeper to do so.
With the departure of Casillas from Real Madrid, Navas inherited his number 1 shirt for the2015–16 La Liga season.[37] Madrid agreed to transfer Navas toManchester United in part-exchange forDavid de Gea on 31 August 2015. Still, the deal collapsed because the documents were not submitted toFIFA before the Spanish transfer deadline.[38]
Madrid thrashedReal Betis in their home opener by a score of 5–0 with a fine performance from Navas, making several saves and stopping a penalty.[39] He was a regular starter when the team won the2015–16 UEFA Champions League. Navas earned the dual distinction of becoming the first Costa Rican and Central American ever to play in and win the men's Champions League final.[40] He set a new record for Real Madrid in theUEFA Champions League by not conceding a single goal in his first eight appearances; 6 of these were in the 2015–16 season. He also usurpedEdwin van der Sar to reach the second spot in clean sheets behindJens Lehmann in the all-time list. He was the best goalkeeper in the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League season, conceding only three goals in 12 appearances, keeping nine clean sheets.[41]
He was the starting goalkeeper when Madrid won the2016–17 La Liga[42][43] and the2016–17 UEFA Champions League.[44] On 29 January 2017 after the 3–0 win at home to Real Sociedad in La Liga, Navas became the first player from Costa Rica to reach 100 La Liga appearances.[45] His performances during the double trophy-winning season led him to win the Player of the Year for the second time at the2017 CONCACAF Awards.[46]
Navas made his 100th appearance for Madrid during the2–0 second-leg home win overBarcelona.[47] During the2017–18 UEFA Champions League, he started eleven games, as Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall Champions League title beatingLiverpool3–1 in the final.[48] The win against Liverpool saw Navas claim his 100th victory for Madrid in only 141 appearances.[49] Navas produced some fine performances in the Champions League including a superb display againstBayern Munich in theirsemi-final second leg clash which helped Real Madrid qualify to the final. He made eight saves during the game, his highest tally in a Champions League knock-out game.[50] Bayern Munich managerJupp Heynckes praised Navas after the game as the reason for Real Madrid's qualification.[51]
Navas’ fifth season at Real Madrid began with the much-anticipated arrival ofThibaut Courtois[52] to compete for the number 1 goalkeeping spot. Despite Courtois’ arrival, Navas was selected to play in the2018 UEFA Super Cup[53] which resulted in a 2–4 loss to city rivalsAtlético Madrid.[54] Navas then went on to start the opening game ofLa Liga,[55] comfortably keeping his first clean sheet of the season with a 2–0 win overGetafe CF.[56] His performances in the last Champions League campaign led him to be voted as the2017–18 UEFA Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season[57] beating off competition from thenRoma goalkeeperAlisson Becker andJuventus goalkeeperGianluigi Buffon. On 9 January 2019, Navas made his 150th appearance in all competitions for Madrid in their 3–0 home win againstLeganés in theCopa del Rey.[58] On 6 April 2019 Navas became the first ever non-Spanish goalkeeper to reach 100 La Liga appearances for Real Madrid.[59]
Navas joinedParis Saint-Germain (PSG) on a four-year contract on 2 September 2019,[60] becoming the first Costa Rican to play for the men's team.[61] He made hisLigue 1 debut 12 days later, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 home win againstStrasbourg.[62] On 24 July 2020, Navas won his 20th career club trophy after beatingSaint-Étienne in theCoupe de France final.[63] On 31 July, he kept a clean sheet and saved a spot kick in the resulting shoot-out as PSG defeatedLyon 6–5 on penalties in the2020 Coupe de la Ligue Final.[64] That win marked Navas' 15th trophy in Europe, matchingRafael Márquez's record for aCONCACAF player.[65] On 23 August 2020, Navas started his 4thChampions League final, losing to Bayern Munich 1–0.[66] He finished the European campaign with 5 clean sheets, the second most afterManuel Neuer despite having played 191 minutes less.[67]
Navas started his second season with PSG as one of the seven club players to test positive forCOVID-19.[68][69] He missed the clubs first two games due to the quarantine requirement.[70][71] On 16 September 2020, Navas played his first game of the season winning and keeping a clean sheet againstMetz.[72] On 17 September,UEFA announced Navas, for the second time, as a nominee for the 2019–20 Champions League Goalkeeper of the Season award.[73] On 20 September, Navas starred in PSG's 3–0 away win toNice with a second consecutive clean sheet as well as several excellent saves.[74] On 13 January 2021, Navas won the2020 Trophée des Champions. With that win, he became the CONCACAF player with the most European trophies, 16, surpassing former Rafael Márquez.[75] On 20 April 2021, Navas was votedLigue 1 Player of the Month for March, making him the first CONCACAF player to win the award.[76] Navas signed a contract with PSG until 2024 on 26 April 2021.[77]
Ahead of the2021–22 season, PSG signed Italian goalkeeperGianluigi Donnarumma. This raised eyebrows over potential competition between Navas and his Italian counterpart.[78] In the2022–23 season, new coachChristophe Galtier confirmed that Navas would occupy the position of number two goalkeeper.[79]
Following the long-term injury toDean Henderson, on 31 January 2023, Navas signed forPremier League clubNottingham Forest on loan until the end of the season.[80] He made his debut for Forest on 5 February, keeping a clean sheet in a 1–0 win overLeeds United, and was named player of the match.[81]
Following his return to PSG, Navas was included in the Champions League squad for the2023–24 season, having rejected a transfer to Saudi clubAl Hilal.[82] On 11 May 2024, he announced his departure from PSG at the end of the season.[83]
On January 21, 2025, Navas joinedNewell's Old Boys on a free transfer.[84] A month later, on 2 February, he made his debut in a 1–0 win againstAldosivi.[85]
In June 2025 Navas began to seek his departure from the team due to relationship problems with the coaching staff and fans of Newell's, which made him request not to play in the first matches of the2025 Clausura Tournament, while asking the club to allow him to be transferred to another team.[86][87]
After several weeks of failed sale negotiations,[88] Newell's announced Navas's departure from the club on July 21, 2025, six months after joining the team.[89]
Navas appeared withLos Ticos in twoCONCACAF Gold Cup competitions, being named the best goalkeeper in the2009 edition as he helped his country reach the semi-finals.[95] He returned to allow them to the quarter-finalstwo years later, in what is to date his last appearance at a Gold Cup, as he would miss the tournament for the following ten years, a period that encompasses five editions.[96] He also missed theCopa América Centenario similarly.[97]
Navas made his debut in theFIFA World Cup on 14 June 2014, appearing in a3–1 group stage win againstUruguay inFortaleza,[98] and started the other two group games only conceding a single goal as Costa Rica qualified for the knockout stages as group winners[99] for the first time.
On 29 June, in theround of 16 match againstGreece, Navas was namedman of the match after several saves in normal time and a save fromTheofanis Gekas' kick during thepenalty shootout, which led to Costa Rica reaching the quarter-finals for the first time ever.[100] He ended the tournament with threeclean sheets from five matches, as the country was knocked out by theNetherlands after a penalty shootout,[101] where he was named man of the match for the third time, the only goalkeeper to do so.[102] He was also one of three nominees for theGolden Glove Award, losing out toManuel Neuer of Germany.[103]
Navas during Costa Rica'sWorld Cup match against Brazil in 2018.
In May 2018, Navas was named in the finalsquad for the2018 World Cup.[104] He started all three group games, making ten saves and conceding five goals.[105]
In November 2022, Navas was named in the finalsquad for the2022 World Cup[106] In Costa Rica's first game againstSpain, Navas conceded seven goals.[107] In the second game of group play againstJapan, Navas kept a clean sheet giving Costa Rica a surprise 1–0 win over their opponent.[108] Navas would lose 4–2 in Costa Rica's third group game againstGermany.Los Ticos finished fourth in their group with three points and a goal difference of –8.[109]
Navas played his last international match on 26 March 2024 in a friendly againstArgentina.[110] On 23 May 2024, Navas announced his retirement from the national team.[111]
In May 2025, he announced his return to international football and was subsequently included in Costa Rica's squad for the2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup by head coachMiguel Herrera.[112]
Often rated by several pundits as one of the best goalkeepers in the world,[113][114] and considered by some in the sport as the best in the history of CONCACAF,[115] Navas is an energetic keeper, who is primarily known for his agility, speed, and athleticism in goal, as well as his quick reflexes and excellent shot-stopping ability, which enables him to compensate for his relative lack of height. He has also drawn praise in the media for his decisive performances in essential matches, and his penchant for producing difficult and crucial saves for his team in critical moments.[116][117][118][119] In 2017, former goalkeeperManuel Almunia praised Navas, describing him as "the prototype model" goalkeeper, also adding: "He's spectacular between the posts, he's brave, skillful and very agile. He maintains his concentration, and he's also intelligent... For me, he deserves all the respect he gets for what he's done."[120]
In 2020, Navas cited compatriotLéster Morgan as his goalkeeping idol.[121]
Keylor Navas was raised in a low-income family inSan Isidro de El General, a town in the southeast ofSan José province. He is a devoutChristian. He spoke about his faith, saying, "God for me comes first. Before every game, I kneel, open my arms, and pray ... My favorite passage of the Bible isGalatians 1:10, which says: "If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."[122][123] On 3 December 2014, Navas announced that he had obtained Spanish citizenship.[124][125]
Navas has been married to Andrea Salas since 2009, and the couple have three children together: Daniela, Mateo, and Thiago. Navas is the stepfather of Daniela, whom Andrea had in a previous relationship.[126]
A documentary film,Hombre de Fe (Man of Faith), based on the life of Navas, was released on 28 December 2017.[127]
His paternal half-brother, Eder Navas, is also a footballer who plays for Saprissa.[128]
Navas (front row, with green uniform) celebrating Real Madrid's victory at the2018 UEFA Champions League final. He is one of seven goalkeepers to win the title a record three times.[136]
^"Navas: "Vengo con mucho compromiso"" [Navas: "I come full of commitment"] (in Spanish). Albacete's official website. 9 July 2010. Retrieved27 October 2013.
^"Five madridistas pick up prizes at the Facebook Football Awards".realmadrid.com.Madrid,Spain: Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. 12 May 2016. Retrieved13 July 2016.Ronaldo (best striker and best player), James (best goal),Modric (best midfielder), Marcelo (best defender) and Navas (best goalkeeper) were the winners at the ceremony which took place at Facebook's offices in Madrid. The Real Madrid fans were also chosen as the best supporters in La Liga.
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