As Sir Alex Ferguson once said, "attack wins you games, defence wins you titles."
While attacking players often grab the headlines, it is usually the contribution of defensive players that prove most crucial to winning silverware.
And at the heart of any strong defence is a top-quality goalkeeper.
Although the role has evolved over the years, with modern-day keepers expected to be more involved in building up play, many of the core principles remain the same.
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Goalkeepers must make crucial saves to keep their team in the game, while also acting as reliable option when the team is on the ball.
Here, we rank the 10 best goalkeepers currently playing in world football.
It is a list that includes established Premier League stars and emerging talents who may soon be on the move.
10 - Joan Garcia
After an impressive season at Espanyol, Garcia attracted interest from several Premier League clubs before eventually moving to Barcelona.
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The 24-year-old is an excellent shot-stopper and although he may lack the long-range passing of others on this list, he is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
He made the most saves in La Liga last season, including a man of the match display in a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid.
9 - Ederson
The Manchester City goalkeeper has been the perfect number one for Pep Guardiola thanks to his exceptional passing range.
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Although his shot-stopping is not among the best globally, he has been integral to England's most dominant club side.
With James Trafford's arrival confirmed, Ederson's future will soon lie away from Manchester, but he remains one of the world's best.
8 - Lucas Chevalier
Champions League winners PSG are in talks with Chevalier over a summer move and for good reason.
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The 23-year-old Frenchman has been a Lille regular for the past three years, winning the best goalkeeper award last season.
Given his obvious talent, he will only climb this list in years to come.
7 - Emiliano Martinez
Martinez is arguably the most 'clutch' goalkeeper on this list but he is too mistake-prone.
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He has won the Yashin award for best goalkeeper in both 2023 and 2024, as well as golden gloves at Copa America and the World Cup.
His stunning save from Randal Kolo Muani in the World Cup final is one of the greatest stops ever.
6 - Jan Oblak
The 32-year-old has been at Atletico Madrid for more than a decade, making more than 450 appearances.
He is a well-rounded keeper, who has been at the top of his game for years, despite winning just one league title and a Europa League crown.
Oblak has won the Zamora Trophy on six occasions, which is awarded to the goalkeeper with the best goals to game ratio.
5 - Yann Sommer
Sommer was exceptional during Inter Milan's run to last season's UEFA Champions League, keeping seven clean sheets.
His performance in the semi-final against FC Barcelona, where he made seven saves, was one of the best goalkeeping displays in recent years.
The 36-year-old was a regular for Borussia Monchengladbach, before a brief stint at Bayern Munich prior to joining Inter.
4 - David Raya
Many Arsenal fans were sceptical when Raya was brought in over the hugely popular Aaron Ramsdale.
But Raya has transformed their defence and offered more solidity and consistency than the Englishman.
He has won consecutive Premier League Golden Glove awards and will surely add silverware with Arsenal soon.
3 - Gianluigi Donnarumma
The Italian has been rated since an early age, having made his AC Milan debut aged just 16.
He has won four successive Ligue 1 titles with PSG and was instrumental in helping the club end their wait for a Champions League earlier this year.
There are rumours linking him with a move away from Paris, and both Manchester United and Chelsea are potential suitors.
2 - Thibaut Courtois
Courtois has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for over a decade, excelling at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid.
He consistently makes great saves in important matches and has won all of the major club trophies.
At 33, the Belgian may still have several years ahead of him to add to his huge trophy haul.
1 - Alisson
When Liverpool paid £67 million for Alisson in 2018, he became the most expensive goalkeeper ever, few expected him to deliver such good value.
But the Brazilian has been the best goalkeeper in England since, winning every major club honour.
He has started to struggle with injuries and with Giorgi Mamardashvili joining Liverpool, he may not have long left at the top level.
Topics: Alisson, Champions League, Football, Premier League, Gianluigi Donnarumma, PSG, Arsenal, Manchester City, Ederson, Emiliano Martinez
James Taylor