An award that recognised those unique individuals who don the gloves and stand between the sticks was long overdue before its inception in 2017. Gianluigi Buffon and Thibaut Courtois were the first winners of The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and this year there is a slight change in order to recognise even more custodians.

Both male and female No1s will now be honoured, with the inaugural The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper award succeeding The Best FIFA Goalkeeper award, and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper award set to recognise the outstanding stoppers from the women’s game.

From a final shortlist to be compiled by FIFA, a panel of FIFA Legends will vote for the winner. The victor will be revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards show in Milan on Monday 23 September.