The first to be blamed and the last to be praised, being a goalkeeper can be a thankless task.
The art of goalkeeping has changed drastically over the last few decades, yet unfortunately, the way they are regarded has stayed largely the same.
The current crop of goalkeepers are among the best in the history of the game, but who is the best?
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We've ranked the top 10 goalkeepers in the world, based on performances this season and their importance to their respective teams. That means some big names - including injured Real Madrid star Thibaut Courtois - have missed out.
Here are our top 10 goalkeepers in the world right now.
Other articles in this series:
10: Jan Oblak
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Jan Oblak has been among the world's best for a decade now, and although he has had a few hairy moments this season for Atletico Madrid, he still performs at his best on a regular basis.
9: Michele Di Gregorio
Anyone who doesn't follow Serie A closely might not have heard of Michele Di Gregorio but this season the Italian has been one of the best goalkeepers around.
The Monza shot-stopper has conceded just 17 goals in 23 league games this term, and has saved a remarkable 84.5 per cent of the 103 shots he has faced.
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8: Manuel Neuer
The best goalkeeper in the world for much of his career, Neuer doesn't appear to have slowed down too much during his near year-long absence with a broken leg.
7: Ederson
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While Ederson is not the best goalkeeper when it comes to shot-stopping (although he is still pretty good), there is simply nobody better when it comes to distribution.
There isn't a goalkeeper who suits Pep Guardiola's system at Manchester City better than him,
6: Unai Simon
Unai Simon experienced a bit of a dip last season, but this season he has reminded everyone why he was able to displace David de Gea as Spain's number one.
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Only Real Madrid have conceded fewer goals than Athletic Club in La Liga this season, and Simon is a big reason why.
5: Mike Maignan
Replacing Gianluigi Donnarumma at AC Milan was no easy task, but Maignan has established himself as one of the top goalkeepers in the world since moving to the San Siro in 2021.
Now the France number one following the international retirement of Hugo Lloris, there's nothing to stop the 28-year-old from building an extraordinary legacy.
4: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Donnarumma has had his critics since moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021, but the Italian star is back to his best this term.
At just 25 years old, it's scary to think what he could achieve before he retires.
3: Lukas Hradecky
Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen are running away with the Bundesliga, but they couldn't have done it without Lukas Hradecky.
The Finnish star has been a reliable goalkeeper since he joined Eintracht Frankfurt nine years ago, and he's only improved since joining Leverkusen. Conceding just 16 goals in 22 league games is mightily impressive.
2: Yann Sommer
Inter Milan fans thought they were downgrading when they replaced Man United-bound Andre Onana with Yann Sommer last summer, but the Swiss star has been an incredible buy.
The veteran's distribution this season has been superb, while he has conceded just 12 goals in 24 Serie A games this season. Inter will win the Scudetto and Sommer will take a huge amount of credit.
1: Alisson Becker
Liverpool man Alisson Becker is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper on the planet.
The Brazilian is second only to Ederson in terms of distribution, but he has the edge when it comes to shot-stopping, commanding his penalty area and making crucial interventions.
He cost Liverpool a hefty £70 million in 2018, but he has been worth every penny.
Topics: Football, Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Alisson Becker, Ederson, Manuel Neuer, Jan Oblak
Alex Brotherton