da supremo： Every summer, GOAL will publish its exclusive list of the 25 players who have proven themselves truly elite by consistently producing top performances
da betcris： World-class… It's an invisible but important tag, one that separates the good from the great. But it's such a subjective term. Every football fan has their own definition, their own set of criterion, leading to endless but thoroughly enjoyable debates in stadiums, dressing rooms, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs all across the world.
So, we at GOAL have decided to get in on the fun by compiling a list of the 25 players that we believe represent the game's elite, the best of the best, the guys that have been producing stellar performances over a sustained period of time.
In order to avoid focusing solely on attackers – which, let's face it, nearly always happens when it comes to individual awards and accolades – we've decided that there must be at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack), but a maximum of nine from each.
We'll also be updating membership on an annual basis to take the preceding year's performances into account, meaning players will come and go from this most exclusive of footballing clubs.
But who makes this year's list? Who are the 25 members of the inaugural World-Class Club? Find out below, and be sure to express your approval – or outrage – in the comments…
GOALAlisson Becker (Liverpool)
The archetypal modern goalkeeper? Alisson wasn't the first sweeper-keeper, but he's undeniably one of the greatest exponents of the role we've ever seen. He makes mistakes sometimes, but errors are inevitable when you're willing to take so many risks to help your team build from the back. His ability to pick out the likes of Mohamed Salah with long balls forward is also quickly becoming the stuff of legend.
However, the main reason why Alisson is such a great goalkeeper is that he time and time again produces big saves at big moments for both Brazil and Liverpool. Indeed, during a difficult 2022-23 season for the latter, Alisson repeatedly came to the Reds' rescue.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALKarim Benzema (Al-Ittihad)
Nobody was more surprised by Benzema's decision to move to Saudi Arabia than Real Madrid: Carlo Ancelotti and Florentino Perez were desperate to get another year out of the Frenchman, who, despite an injury-interrupted 2022-23 campaign, remains one of the best goalscorers in the game.
Replacing one of the most complete No.9s in history certainly won't be easy. We're talking about the current Ballon d'Or holder here, which is precisely why he's included on our list. Whether he'll retain his membership next year, though, is a different story altogether…
GOALCasemiro (Manchester United)
Some presumed Casemiro was finished when Real Madrid allowed him to join Manchester United last year, but nothing could have been further from the truth. The Brazilian made a monumental impact at Old Trafford, with several pundits hailing him as the most influential arrival since Eric Cantona. With Casemiro in the middle of the park, hoovering up possession, using the ball cleverly and even scoring crucial goals, United managed to win the Carabao Cup and, far more importantly, secure a return to the Champions League.
Casemiro's status as one of the great modern midfielders was already secure because of what he achieved in Madrid, but he's actually managed to add to his legacy since moving to Manchester.
GOALThibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)
For a long, long time, the big Belgian didn't get the credit he deserved, despite sensational spells at both Atletico Madrid and Chelsea. However, all that changed after Courtois' record-breaking, match-winning display for Real Madrid in their 2022 Champions League final win over Liverpool.
Courtois may not be as comfortable with the ball at his feet as some of the other goalkeepers on our list, but his status as one of the very best shot-stoppers in the world can no longer be questioned. He has the medals, numbers and highlight reel to prove it!