What attributes do the best goalkeepers in the world have? The role of a keeper ain't what is used to be, with No.1s required to start moves as well as provide the last line of defence in the modern game. 

It's often said that having a reliable man between the sticks will win you several points every season, and the following players are good examples of just that. We've ranked our goalkeepers by their all-round game as much as anything else, paying attention to the stats while balancing how good they can be in the biggest moments.

And this is who we've gone with…

By Mark White. Contributions from Ed McCambridge 

Critics will look at the own goal against Arsenal and subsequent decision to traipse up the pitch for a corner and say that Emi Martinez is not consistent enough to be considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world. And though those two instances would be pretty harsh to judge him by, it's true that over a 38-game season, there may be lapses in judgement that separate him from the elite.

But as a big-game player, there may be no better goalkeeper on Earth. We first saw it during Arsenal's 2020 FA Cup win, before Martinez became a national hero back home in Argentina. 2021 established him on the world stage with the Copa America before he won the Best Goalkeeper award in Qatar at the World Cup. Martinez's numbers aren't bad across a whole season… but put him under spotlight and watch him grow another six inches.

Napoli have been soaring in Serie A – but Andre Onana has perhaps been the standout goalkeeper in the division. Inter Milan invite more shots than the league leaders, surrendering more possession and putting up the third-least tackles in their own third, relying heavily on the Cameroonian between the sticks.

Onana has thrived in Italy since his move from Ajax last summer. After initially playing backup to skipper Samir Handanovic, the 26-year-old has kept five clean sheets out of seven in the Champions League, even looking like one of Inter's better players in the 2-0 loss at home to Bayern Munich. 

Right now, Onana is second in all of Europe's top five leagues for post-shot expected goals per shot on target, proving just how reliable he is as a shot-stopper – and that's impressive, considering that many thought the benefit of signing him was primarily for his footwork. Even Onana himself trusts himself in possession, getting dropped from Rigobert Song's World Cup side for taking too many risks with the ball. 

Paris Saint-Germain already had a top keeper in Keylor Navas and a decent backup in Alphonse Areola. Gianluigi Donnarumma was always going to establish himself as the next big superstar of the club, though, to oust them both.

The giant Italian is ranked ninth in Europe for post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed, meaning that he's saved five goals more than he should have – and considering the ever-changing cast in front of him and the lack of press from the Galactico frontline, that's pretty damn good. Gigi's good with his feet too, commands his box well and he's already a European champion at international level, too. All before the age of 25 – he's only going up. 

Manuel Neuer probably won't play again this season but it feels weird not to include him, right? He's still one of the best footballers on Earth, one of the greatest keepers to have ever lived and incredibly, still a statistical anomaly. 

Manny ranks comfortably as the shortest passer of any custodian in Europe, even this season. His style is unique: and though he's now 36 and Father Time is drawing nearer, he's still a superb shot-stopper, an unbelievable leader and his absence is enough to force Bayern into buying another top keeper to try and replicate his presence in the team. Great goalkeeper. Bad skiier. 

From one Bayern star to another. It may seem typical of Die Roten to simply go out and buy the best available Bundesliga talent that isn't called Neuer – but Sommer might be even better than the Germany No.1 right now. 

Third in the whole of Europe's top five leagues for post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed per 90, the Swiss shot-stopper has matured into one of the most respected players in his position on the continent. He's statistically in the elite and as having the former Borussia Monchengladbach man between the sticks has been a calming influence to young defenders ahead of him. It'll be interesting to see the competition between these two unfold when Neuer returns. 

It's arguable that Ederson could be the most influential goalkeeper in the Premier League since Petr Cech. Ball-playing keepers with viewed with bemusement, much less suspicion, when Pep Guardiola brought in Claudio Bravo – but though it took his second attempt to really nail the role, it's safe to say Ederson has been worth it. 

There will always be those will never really rate the Brazilian too highly – and it's fair enough, in some respects. A good shot-stopper, Manchester City's No.1 is there primarily for his work on the ball – but to give credit where it's due, he's always been consistent. Ederson has never felt like a weak link, excelling whenever called upon for City, while winning the last three Premier League Golden Gloves.

And that ability with his feet only elevates him higher up this list. He's utterly superb as a footballer, let alone a goalkeeper. 

He's not even England's No.1 and yet Nick Pope has been easily the best goalkeeper in the entire Premier League this season. Just 15 goals conceded before his uncharacteristic red card against Liverpool, Pope has been one of the signings of the season. 

Sure, he has an excellent defence ahead of him but Pope has been superb in his own right. Though he's been criticised in the past for being poor with his feet, he hasn't crippled Newcastle United's build-up, while being second in all of Europe for defensive actions outside the penalty area shows just how good he is at sweeping (although not that one time against Liverpool).

A great shot-stopper who perhaps never got his credit, it's nice to see him fighting for Europe rather than Premier League survival this term. 

Barcelona have been almost flawless this season domestically. Xavi has melded together a side that plays the Barcelona way again once more – and that includes their defensive solidity. Yes: it's in this club's DNA to be brilliant at the back as well as going forward, you know.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen might not harbour much of an interest in the sport that's made him a superstar but he's conceded just eight league goals all season. That's simply astounding – and though Barça's set-up expects possession and to limit opportunities, MATS is seventh in Europe for post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed.

That means he’s saved five goals more than he should have, too. He's putting up excellent numbers in a well-oiled machine.

Thibaut Courtois himself suggested it was a lack of "respect" that he wasn't on this list at one point. The past 12 months, however, have been perhaps the best of his career.

Courtois is still first in Europe for post-shot expected goals per shot on target, indicating his world-class shot-stopping – and actually, his passing and his ability to get down to shots have both improved with age. He's a leader, too, for club and country, as typified by his performance in the Champions League final of last year.

It was one of the finest in memory from any goalkeeper in a continental showpiece. It shows just how special the Belgian is that he's ascended to become arguably Real Madrid's second-most important player after Karim Benzema – and he's well worthy of the respect.

Alisson was seen as many as a goalkeeper who would help Liverpool play out from the back, with excellent passing range – and the Reds' forwards can testify to that, judging by how many goals their goalkeeper has started the attacking move of. 

If goalkeeping can be roughly split into the possession-based and the shot-stopping, however, Liverpool have the best goalkeeper in the world in terms of both. World-class when one-on-one and with his side struggling in midtable, Alisson has been every bit the traditional shot-stopping life-saver this campaign, having saved nine goals more than he should have, statistically. And yet, he has the fifth-shortest goal-kicks in all of Europe. 

It's very rare for those two metrics to match. It doesn't bear thinking about for Liverpool fans where they'd be in the table without the one player who's consistently performed for them throughout everything this season.