Taking one for the team! Olivier Giroud, Pele and the top 10 outfield players to don goalkeeper gloves

AC Milan stayed on top of the early 2023-24 Serie A standings after a smash-and-grab victory at Genoa, which saw United States star Christian Pulisic grab the winning goal in the 87th minute.

It was his former Chelsea team-mate Giroud that stole all the headlines, though, as the World Cup-winner went in goal after Mike Maignan was sent off deep into stoppage-time.

Giroud, who had initially been introduced as a second-half substitute, put on Maignan's No.16 shirt with his mismatched No.9 shorts and made sure that Milan held on for a clean sheet. He produced a brilliant flying save to deny George Puscas as he raced through on goal for Genoa in the dying seconds, and was subsequently mobbed by his team-mates.

Incredibly, Serie A included Giroud as a goalkeeper in their Team of the Week, and Milan made special No.9 goalkeeping jerseys available to supporters as a tribute to their fearless Frenchman.

Walker volunteered to mind the net for Manchester City after Claudio Bravo became the first substitute goalkeeper to receive a red card in Champions League history - having come on at half-time for Ederson in their group-stage clash with Atalanta.

The England full-back only made one save, but that was more than Bravo or Ederson managed in the game, which eventually ended in a 1-1 draw as Walker was congratulated by City boss Pep Guardiola after the game.

Brazil icon Pele is widely regarded as one of the best footballers to ever grace a pitch, but he was also pretty handy in goal. After scoring a hat-trick for Santos in the second leg of their Taca Brasil semi-final clash against Gremio, Pele went in the net for the final six minutes of the match after first-choice 'keeper Gilmar was sent off.

His performance was summed up by team-mate Pepe, who also scored in Santos' 4-3 victory. "He [Pele] was a great goalkeeper," he said. "Lithe, as if he could fly."

Portsmouth shocked the football world with their unlikely run to FA Cup glory in 2007-08, which included a dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester United in their quarter-final tie at Old Trafford.

The defining moment in the game came when Tomasz Kuszczak, who had come on for Edwin van der Sar at the interval, was shown a red card for taking out Milan Baros 12 minutes from time.

Ferdinand gallantly filled in to face Sully Muntari from the penalty spot and dived the right way, but failed to keep out the Portsmouth star's powerful effort - despite the ball sitting up at a nice height.

Chelsea earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory away at Reading in the 2006-07 season, but famously lost No.1 shot-stopper Petr Cech after he suffered a blow to the head just 20 seconds into the game - which ultimately left the Czech Republic international having to wear a protective cap for the remainder of his career.

His replacement, Carlo Cudicini, was also stretchered off late in the game after a collision with Ibrahima Sonko, and club captain Terry saw out the final minutes between the sticks.

Terry had never been a stranger to putting his body on the line for the Blues, who held on for a valuable three points and a clean sheet.

Manchester United kept their 2006-07 title bid on track with a thumping 4-0 victory at Tottenham in February, as Cristiano Ronaldo, Nemanja Vidic, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs all found the net.

The only negative for the Red Devils was a broken nose suffered by Van der Sar, who was unable to see out the closing minutes of the game. O'Shea had already been playing in an unfamiliar midfield role, but challenged himself again by taking Van der Sar's gloves.

The Irishman earned a rave reception from the visiting fans after a superb on-on-one save, with United eventually seeing out the game without conceding. O'Shea then hilariously said to Sky Sports after the final whistle: "I asked Edwin if he had a clean sheet bonus because I want half of it!”

Jones, who reinvented himself as a Hollywood actor after hanging up his boots, was one of football's most notorious hardmen - and loved the spotlight. That much was clear when Wimbledon found themselves three goals and a man down 57 minutes into a meeting with Newcastle at St James Park, as he put on the goalkeeper's jersey following a red card to Paul Heald.

Wimbledon ended up losing the game 6-1, but Jones almost pulled off one of the saves of the season and, unsurprisingly, proved to be an imposing presence between the sticks.

Neil Warnock famously decided against naming a back-up goalkeeper on the bench for Sheffield United's home fixture against Arsenal in December 2006, which ended up being something of a masterstroke.

Paddy Kenny was forced off injured shortly before the hour mark with the Blades protecting a 1-0 lead, and Jagielka took his place after apparently impressing Warnock with his shot-stopping skills in training.

The English defender went on to produce a fingertip save to deny Robin van Persie from point-blank range and Sheffield United held out for their first win over Arsenal in over 33 years, with Warnock stating casually after the match: "I like having an extra forward on the bench. I didn't panic when he [Jagielka] went in goal: he doesn't get worried and neither do I. It's the only chance he's got of being man-of-the-match!"

Brighton made an impressive start to the 2021-22 season under Graham Potter, and moved up to sixth in the table after a 1-1 draw with Newcastle at the Amex Stadium. The Seagulls secured a valuable point after a nail-biting finish, with Robert Sanchez sent off in the 92nd minute for a foul on Callum Wilson.

Dunk took one for the team by replacing the Spaniard, but would have been relieved that he didn't have much to do as Brighton prevented Newcastle from creating any last-gasp chances.

Leeds were heavy underdogs already before their trip to Old Trafford at the start of the 1996-97 campaign, and their task was made all the more daunting when Mark Beeney, who was deputising for the absent Nigel Martyn, picked up a red card just 15 minutes after kick-off.

With no reserve goalie among the substitutes, South African centre-back Radebe bravely put himself in the firing line for the next 75 minutes - and did an outstanding job.

Radebe made a series of impressive stops to deny the likes of Andy Cole and Bryan McClair, with United's only goal of the game coming via a powerful Roy Keane strike. The Leeds legend looked like he'd been playing in goal for his entire career, and left Manchester with his stock higher than ever despite the 1-0 defeat.