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Goalkeepers are often underappreciated in their roles but that takes nothing away from the importance of their roles in the success of any football team.
As custodians of the goal, goalkeepers are the last line of defense. More often than not, they are usually the difference between having a good team and having a great team.
Reflexes, dominance in the box, good handling and more recently, excellent technique with the ball at their feet are some of the most important traits that differentiate goalkeepers.
Shot-stoppers who possess most or all of these traits are ranked higher than their peers and they in turn help their teams achieve glory.
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Players who play in more advanced positions and are regular goalscorers or creators are usually more revered in football. This in turn increases their value and renumeration.
Goalkeepers, by contrast, do not get to enjoy as much adulation or renumeration as strikers or midfielders.
However, some goalkeepers have proved themselves over the years and this is reflected in their current market value.
Here is a rundown of the
5 most valuable goalkeepers in the world at the moment
Source: Transfermarkt.com
#5 Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) - €60m
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is one of the most elite goalkeepers on the continent and he has proven himself between the sticks at Barcelona.
The 29-year-old came through at Borussia Monchengladbach and made his first team debut in 2010. He made 127 appearances in all competitions for the Bundesliga side before completing a switch to Barcelona in 2014.
His first season at Camp Nou saw him help the club to a second continental treble as the club's designated continental goalkeeper. The first few seasons of his Blaugrana career saw him rotate goalkeepering duties with Claudio Bravo, with the Chilean preferred in league action while ter Stegen kept goal on the continent.
Bravo's departure to Manchester City in 2016 saw ter Stegen installed as Barcelona's bonafide first choice goalkeeper and he has since made over 270 appearances in all competitions for the club.
The Germany international is blessed with sharp reflexes and excellent command in his area, while his technique on the ball helps him act as Barcelona's first line of attack.
Manuel Neuer's otherworldly talent means that ter Stegen has not enjoyed as much productivity on the international stage, with just 25 appearances made for Germany.
That does not, however, take anything away from his ability which is reflected in him being one of the most valuable goalkeepers in the world.
#4 Alisson (Liverpool) - €60m
As alluded to earlier, a great goalkeeper could be the difference between being also-rans and genuine title contenders and nowhere is this more evident than at Liverpool.
For several years, the club were on an upwards trajectory under Jurgen Klopp but could not make that transition into being bonafide title contenders.
Virgil van Dijk's arrival helped shore up the defense but the 2018 UEFA Champions League final showed the importance of having a top-tier goalkeeper between the sticks.
Lorius Karius made two high-profile errors in that game and the rest is history, with Real Madrid going on to win a 13th continental crown without necessarily being better than Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp sanctioned Alisson's purchase a few weeks later and the Brazilian has played a major role in Liverpool's success since then.
He proved his mettle at AS Roma were he was known as the 'Messi of goalkeepers' and this led Liverpool to sign him for a then-record fee for a goalkeeper.
Alisson's first season at Anfield saw him guide the club to a sixth European crown and he made several crucial saves along the way. He also kept 21 clean sheets in the league to win the Golden Glove, although the Reds agonizingly fell at the last hurdle in their quest for a maiden Premier League title.
That long-elusive league title came a year later and Alisson recovered from an early-season injury to end Liverpool's three decades of heartbreak.
Success has also been enjoyed on the international scene with Brazil, and Alisson has been rewarded for his displays with a host of individual accolades.
The 2020-21 season was one of the worst of his career so far, as unfamiliar errors crept into the 28-year-old's game. However, he rediscovered his best form and scored an invaluable injury-time winner against Aston Villa, which was voted as the club's goal of the season.
Alisson's brilliance has been recognized by him agreeing a new deal to keep him at Anfield until 2027.
#3 Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid) - €60m
Thibaut Courtois is undeniably one of the premier goalkeepers in the world and his excellent ability has seen him represent some of the biggest clubs in the world.
The Belgium international has been a mainstay at Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Real Madrid and tasted league glory at each of the three European giants.
The 29-year-old stands at a massive 6 ft 7in which makes him an imposing figure in the goal and consequently means he has a commanding presence in the area. He is also surprisingly quick and had sharp reflexes for a goalkeeper his size, which enables him to keep out shots at low angles.
A sore point in his career was his acrimonious departure from Chelsea wherein he effectively forced a move transfer to Real Madrid by refusing to show up for training.
He has since made 129 appearances in all competitions for Los Blancos and further bolstered his reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
#2 Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain) - €65m
Gianluigi Donnarumma came through at AC Milan as a prodigiously talented teenager and many earmarked him as the future of Italian goalkeeping.
This says a lot about his immense potential, considering that the Azurri have produced some of the most legendary goalkeepers in history.
Donnaruma broke into the Rossoneri's first team at the tender age of 16 years and 242 days, and went on to set several goalkeeping records before he turned 17 years.
The extra scrutiny and increased media spotlight at such a young age did not faze the Italy international and he continued to perform at admirably high standards.
Donnarumma was one of the few bright lights in what was an otherwise gloomy period for AC Milan and his impressive career trajectory saw him end Italy's six-decade wait for European glory.
For his role in the Azurri's triumph, he was named the player of the tournament at Euro 2020 by UEFA, marking the first time a goalkeeper won the award.
The 21-year-old was more error-prone in his younger years, which can be excused as part of his developmental phase. But he has since become more clinical and is now one of the very best goalkeepers in the world.
Donnarumma's impressive build and height gives him an edge and despite not being as good with his feet, he makes up for this with other world-class attributes.
He joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer of 2021 and the Ligue 1 giants will be banking on him to help them end their wait for European glory.
#1 Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) - €75m
Jan Oblak is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world and it comes as no surprise that the 28-year-old is currently the most valuable goalkeeper in the world.
Atletico Madrid have been famed for producing top-notch goalkeepers in the last decade but Oblak is arguably the pick of the bunch.
The Slovenia international joined the capital side from Benfica in 2014 and has since gone on to prove his mettle as the standout goalkeeper in La Liga.
Oblak's razor-sharp reflexes, excellent ball handling and shot-stopping abilities differentiate him from his peers and he is the solid last line of what is a miserly Atletico Madrid defense.
Diego Simeone's blueprint is based on a sturdy defense that gives few chances to opponents and Los Colchoneros' limited ability in attack means that clean sheets are often required to attain victory.
This is where Jan Oblak's talents come in handy and he has been the difference between draws and victories on occasions too numerous to mention in his Atletico career.
He is a five-time winner of the Ricardo Zamorra award in La Liga, including winning it four consecutively between 2015 and 2019. He was also named La Liga's Player of the Season in 20121 after guiding his team to a surprise league crown.
Also See: Seven European clubs to win a treble
