The Significance of the number 10 in football (2024)

Out of all the numbers, the number 10 plays a huge role not just in football, but in other sports as well. From the mighty Pele to the magical Messi, many of the exceptional players have had the honour of donning the number 10 jersey. When we hear jersey number 10, what suddenly comes to our mind is a skilled player or the best player in the team, but he need not be the captain. For example, Neymar wears number 10 for Paris Saint-Germain but is not the captain. Another reason why the number 10 is admired is that the players wearing this number have created some of the most exceptional moments on the pitch. Be it Ronaldinho’s dancing feet to Pele’s bicycle kick to Messi’s unreal talent for freekicks. But what makes the number 10 so symbolic? Jersey number 10 is given to the player who creates the most goal scoring opportunities, also known as playmaker. As mentioned earlier, the number 10 is given to the most skilled player of the team and more often than not, he is considered as captain because of his exemplary leadership qualities too. Many attacking midfielders also wear the number 10 and they are positioned just behind the forwards.

Wearing the number 10 is also a huge responsibility because that player is responsible for accurate passes and through balls from each of the wings and of course to score goals and create opportunities to score them. Apart from the jersey, the number 10 also refers to the position on the field that it is associatedwith. Initially, players had to wear the numbers 1-11 on their jersey, but now it can be any number. The importance of the number 10 developed from the fact that some of the greatest players to have played the game have achieved some unbelievable records while possessing the number 10 on their back. This number gives a player a sense of pride and significance that in turn motivates them to outperform their rivals.

Some players wear the number 10 at the peak of their careers and move on to another number. For example, throughout his Barcelona career, Messi had the magical number on his back but when he moved to PSG, he was donning the number 30 shirt. Some of the greatest captains and marquee players have won the prestigious FIFA World Cup while donning the exceptional number. Pele did it three times for Brazil, Maradona in 1986 for Argentina and Messi won the tournament last year, all while wearing the number 10. In 1998, even though Deschamps led his team to the World Cuptitle, it was Zidane who stole the show with two magnificent headers to seal the win for Les Bleus, all while donning the number 10 jersey.

When kids all over the world play football on the streets, they all imagine that they are wearing the number 10. During school and college football tournaments, all the players would dream to get that number 10 printed on the back of their jersey’s, but unfortunately only one person would get to wear it and this person will obviously be the captain and the most intelligent player on the pitch. While the number 10 is given to the most gifted player, the number 1 is always given to the shot-stoppers or goal keepers. Football payers first used numbers on their backs in 1911. The first ever football match where numbers were used was in a match between Sydney Leichhardt and HMS Powerful. Another superb player who donned the number 10 was France’s Michel Platini. While wearing the number 10, he achieved great heights with France and the Italian club, Juventus, including playing a major role in France’s 1984 Euro win. The confidence of the number 10 jersey also won him three back- to- back Ballon d’Ors, in 1983, 1984 and 1985 respectively.

Many exceptional number 10’s will come and go, but Pele will be the best number 10.

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