Top 10 Football's greatest number 10s ever | you need to must know
Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, and more! The biggest number 1Os in football history are the subject of this article.
Usually, the number 10 on a squad represents its finest player. This number was selected for them by some of the best football players in history. An aggressive midfielder or center forward typically dons the No. 10 shirt.
Probably the finest football players of all time can be found on the list of the greatest number 10s in football history. Now let's get going.
Which player is the best to have worn jersey number 10?
Football's greatest number ten players
A list of the top ten best number 10s in football history has been assembled by us.
Who is the best player to have worn number 10? To learn the solution to this query, read this article. Before we begin, let me clarify that we are not discussing the number 10 job or anything similar here. All that's on our minds is the number on the shirt's back.
Let's examine these outstanding players' careers.
Distinguished Mention- Eusebio
- Ferenc Puskas
- Michael Laudrup
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Del Piero Alessandro
Baggio is regarded as one of the best Italian players of all time, as well as one of the finest number 10s in football history.
Throughout his career, Baggio represented seven clubs: Vicenza, Fiorentina, Juventus, AC Milan, Bologna, Inter Milan, and Brescia. His best and most successful period of his career occurred at Juventus. He won Serie A, Coppa Italia, and the UEFA Cup with the club.
Baggio appeared in 200 matches for Juventus, scoring 115 goals and assisting 47 more. He won the Ballon d'Or with Juventus in 1993. Baggio is one of only four Italian players to have won the honor.
Roberto Baggio had 56 appearances for the national team and scored 27 goals. He made it to the 1994 World Cup final with Italy, but they lost in a penalty shootout to Brazil and finished second. Baggio missed his final penalty.
2. Lothar Matthaus
Lothar Matthaus is one of the best German footballers of all time, as well as one of the finest football players to have worn the number 10. This number is unusual for a defensive midfielder—a unique number for an exceptional player.
Lothar Matthaus has played for clubs including Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich, and Inter Milan. He won 13 major trophies with Bayern Munich, including six Bundesliga crowns and one UEFA Cup victory. Matthaus spent four years at Inter Milan, when he won both Serie A and the UEFA Cup. He also finished second in the European Cup twice with Bayern Munich.
Lothar Matthaus made 150 appearances for the national team and scored 23 goals. He holds the record for most caps for the German national team. Matthaus played in the World Cup final twice (1986 and 1990), winning the title once.
In 1990, he won the Ballon d'Or.
3. Zico
OVER THE YEARS, THE ONE PLAYER WHO CAME CLOSEST TO ME WAS ZICO.
They call him the White Pele. Zico is one of the greatest midfielders of all time, as well as one of the best number 10s in soccer history.
The majority of Zico's football career was spent at Flamengo. Zico is the biggest legend in this club's history. He has 508 goals for the Brazilian club and retains the Flamengo goal scoring record.
Zico had 71 appearances for the national team and scored 48 goals. He is the sixth highest-scoring player for the Brazilian national team. Zico was a standout player in the 1980s, and he represented Brazil in two World Cups this decade. He has never won the World Cup.
4. Francesco Totti
Francesco Totti is one of the most well-known figures in Italian football, as well as one of the best number 10s in history. Il Capitano spent his entire career with Roma. Roma fans adore him.
Francesco Totti was a Roma player from 1993 to 2017. He played 786 games for the capital club, scoring 307 goals and assisting 208 others. He is Roma's all-time leader in appearances, goals, and assists. Francesco Totti won the Serie A once and the Coppa Italia twice for Roma.
Totti made 619 appearances in Serie A, trailing just Paolo Maldini and Gianluigi Buffon. Totti is the second-highest goalscorer in Serie A history, after only Silvio Piola. He earned the European Golden Boot in the 2006-07 season. Totti is one of only three Italian players to have won the honor.
Francesco Totti had 58 appearances for the national team and scored nine goals. He won the 2006 World Cup for Italy.
5. Ronaldinho
One of the greatest Brazilian players of all time, as well as one of the best number 10s in football history. Ronaldinho embodied the beauty of football in his legs. He was a poet who wrote his poems on the ball.
Ronaldinho has played for clubs including Flamengo, Gremio, PSG, Barcelona, and AC Milan. Barcelona was where he had the most success in his career. The Brazilian offensive midfielder spent five years with Barcelona (2003-2008), winning two La Liga titles and one Champions League trophy.
Ronaldinho had 97 appearances for the national team and scored 33 goals. He was a member of the 2002 World Cup winning squad.
6. Michel Platini
Michel Platini spent his football career with three clubs: Nancy, Saint-Etienne, and Juventus. Juventus provided him with his best professional experience. He spent five years with the Italian club (1982–1987). Platini has won the Ballon d'Or in three of the past five years. He won seven major trophies with the Bianconeri, including two Serie A crowns and one European Cup title.
Platini made 72 appearances for the national team and scored 41 goals. He won the 1984 European Championship for France. The number ten scored nine goals in this event and was his team's star. He still retains the record for the most goals scored during a single European Championship competition.
7. Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane is one of the most notable football players to have worn the number 10. Of course, Zizou sported the classic number 5 at Real Madrid and the number 21 at Juventus. However, with the French national squad, he would wear shirt number 10.
Zidane has played for Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus, and Real Madrid. The French midfielder have one of the most illustrious and successful careers in sports. He won Serie A, La Liga, and the Champions League for Juventus and Real Madrid. Zizou won both the European Championship and the World Cup for France. He was one of a kind.
Zinedine Zidane competed in three Champions League finals and two World Cup finals. He scored one of football's most legendary goals in the 2002 Champions League final. His spectacular performance in the 2006 World Cup final, as well as his epic ending by smashing Marco Materazzi, were among the highlights of his illustrious career.
Zidane won the Ballon d'Or in 1998.
8. Diego Maradona
He was the deity of football. Many see him as the best player in history. Diego Maradona was one of the best number tens in football.
Throughout his career, the renowned Argentine midfielder represented Boca Juniors, Barcelona, and Napoli. The best period of Maradona's career came at Napoli. He won two Serie A titles and one UEFA Cup with the Italian club. El Diego appeared in 259 appearances with Napoli, scoring 115 goals and assisting on another 68. They've retired his number 10 permanently.
The 1986 World Cup, however, was without a doubt the pinnacle of Diego Maradona's career. He delivered the best individual performance in football history throughout this competition. Maradona scored two of the most memorable goals in history against England in the quarter-finals. He had 5 goals and 5 assists in this competition. Argentina won the championship thanks to Diego Maradona's amazing effort.
9. Pele
Pele is one of the greatest athletes of all time, as well as one of football's finest number 10s. Pele holds the record for the most goals scored in football history, the most hat-tricks, the most World Cup championships, and the youngest player to win the World Cup.
The Brazilian great spent the majority of his career with Santos, where he scored over a thousand goals over eighteen years (1956-1974). He is the all-time leading scorer for Santos.
Pele represented Brazil in four World Cups. In 14 World Cup appearances, he scored 12 goals and assisted on another 8. Three of the twelve goals were scored in the final. Pele is the only player to have three World Cup gold medals.
Pele appeared in 92 games for the Brazilian national team, scoring 77 goals and assisting 32 more. He is the best Brazilian football player of all time.
10. Lionel Messi
What are the best number 10s in football history? Hold a spot for Messi!
Lionel Messi requires no introduction. He is undoubtedly the most well-known football player of all time. The Argentinian forward is Barcelona's all-time leading scorer as well as the top scorer for Argentina. Messi currently owns the record for most assists in football history.
The King was a Barcelona player for seventeen years (2004-2021). He played 778 games for the Spanish club, scoring 672 goals and assisting 303 others. This is incredible!
Messi is the all-time leading scorer in La Liga and the second-highest in Champions League history. He won 34 major championships with the Bluegrana, including 10 La Liga and four Champions League wins. He holds the record for most Ballon d'Or and European Golden Boots. Messi is the leading scorer in La Liga eight times and the Champions League six times.
Lionel Messi has appeared in 177 international games for Argentina, scoring 104 goals and assisting on 56 others. He is Argentina's all-time leading goal scorer and appearance maker.
conclusion
The Magic of Number 10
The number 10 shirt has graced the backs of some of football's most intriguing stars. These fantasistas have wowed spectators with their artistry, vision, and ability to shape the game's flow. From the elegance of Zidane to the pure joy of Ronaldinho, each number ten delivered something distinct.
Choosing the absolute "greatest" is a matter of opinion and era. However, each player on this list has made a lasting mark on the beautiful game. Their captivating performances encourage future generations to take up a ball and create their own magic. The number 10 shirt is only a piece of fabric, yet it represents the heritage of these iconic artists.