Every summer, GOAL publishes its exclusive list of the 25 players who have proven themselves truly elite
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, TV studios, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs all across the world.
So, back in 2023, GOAL decided to get in on the fun by compiling a very exclusive list of the 25 players that we felt represented the game's elite, the best of the best, the guys that had 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 stipulated that there must be at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack), and a maximum of nine from each.
Members are subject to an annual review, and now the time has once again come to decide who gets to stay in the World-Class Club – and who must be politely asked to leave.
So, who's made this year's 25-strong selection? Find out below, and be sure to express your approval – or outrage – in the comments…
Getty/GOALGK: Alisson Becker
Alisson Becker's only flaw is his increasing susceptibility to niggling muscular injuries, which once again interrupted his 2024-25 season. Aside from that annoying habit, though, the Brazilian is the archetypal modern goalkeeper: brave and precise with the ball at his feet, but also a sensational shot-stopper, as he proved once again with an astounding performance against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in March.
Giorgi Mamardashvili is a fine goalkeeper in his own right, but he's going to have his work cut out usurping Alisson as Liverpool's No.1!
AdvertisementGetty/GOALGK: Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois missed nearly the entire 2023-24 season with an ACL tear, but he offered an immediate reminder of his quality upon returning to action just before the close of the campaign, keeping a clean sheet in five consecutive games, including Real Madrid's Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund.
Last season wasn't quite so successful, but he remains one of the Blancos' standard-setters, an outspoken presence in between the sticks who is given free reign to flag the failings of those in front of him because he usually does his own job flawlessly.
Getty/GOALGK: Gianluigi Donnarumma 🆕
You'd have been hard pressed to find anyone who didn't deem Gigi Donnarumma world-class after his Golden Ball-winning heroics at Euro 2021. At the time, the Italian giant really did look like Gigi Buffon's heir. However, Donnarumma endured a dramatic dip in form, and his time at Paris Saint-Germain was proving to be a real mixed bag – until this year.
Donnarumma was absolutely sensational during PSG's Champions League campaign, particularly in the pivotal win over Liverpool at Anfield, and also kept more clean sheets than anyone else at the Club World Cup. Fair to say, then, that the Italy No.1 is well and truly back to his best.
Getty/GOALDEF: Alessandro Bastoni 🆕
An injury crisis left Inter without a left wing-back for their Champions League clash with Feyenoord in March, so then-coach Simone Inzaghi turned to Alessandro Bastoni, who played the role to perfection. Not that anyone was really surprised.
Bastoni is widely regarded as the most complete centre-back in world football, a pacey and powerful man-marker with a wand of a left foot who was named the best defender in Serie A for the second consecutive season in 2024-25.