Soccer Number 10: Why Is It Significant?

The soccer number 10 carries with it prestige and an ambiance of excellence. 

In soccer, each player is assigned a number based on their position on the field. The number 10 is often associated with some of the greatest soccer players in history, such as Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.

Key Takeaways From This Article:

• Historically, jersey numbers were given based on a player’s position.
• The #10 jersey number in soccer is usually worn by a midfielder or a playmaker on a team.
• There’s a level of eliteness when a player wears the #10. It’s probably the most in-demand number in youth and professional soccer.

What does the number 10 actually mean in soccer? The number 10 is typically given to an attacking midfielder, also known as the team’s playmaker. 

Wearing #10 in Soccer

This player is responsible for creating goal-scoring opportunities for the team and is often the most creative and skilled player on the field. 

The number 10 position is crucial to a team’s success, as this player can change the course of a game with their vision, technique, and passing ability. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the number 10 position in soccer, its history, and the qualities that make an elite number 10 player.

Significance of Number 10 in Soccer

Role on the Soccer Field

The number 10 commonly plays just behind the forwards and is usually the most offensive central midfielder in a soccer formation. They can often be the CAM, False 9, or Second Striker. Take a look at the graphic below.

The number 10 player is usually seen to be the player occupying the space between midfielders and strikers in modern soccer formations.

In earlier years, the 2-3-5 pyramid was one of the most successful formations, and the number 10 player was not as prominent as they are today. Modern soccer formations such as the 4-2-3-1 allow more space for midfielders to attack with the striker.

Symbolic Meaning of #10

The number 10 jersey has been worn by some of the greatest soccer players in the history of the game, such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Zinedine Zidane. 

In professional soccer, the number 10 is not given to just any player. It is usually a jersey that a player must earn through their skills and performance on the field. It is a number that comes with great pride along with history for the club.

Number 10 in Modern Soccer

The Number 10 position in soccer has evolved over the years and is now a crucial role in modern soccer.

In this section, we will look at the current players, tactics, and strategies used by teams to utilize the Number 10 position effectively.

Current Professional Soccer Players Who Wear 10

Some of the best current players who wore #10 during their career include: 

• Lionel Messi
• Luka Modrić 
• Neymar Jr. 
• Harry Kane
• Caroline Graham Hansen
• Carli Lloyd
• Lindsey Horan

These players are known for their excellent dribbling skills, vision, and ability to create goal-scoring opportunities for their professional and national teams. 

They are often the focal point of their team’s attacking play and are responsible for unlocking the opposition’s defense.

Tactics and Strategies to Use a 10

Teams use different tactics and strategies to utilize the attacking #10 soccer position effectively. 

The 4-2-3-1 is a popular soccer formation that takes advantage of the attacking midfielder position. In this formation, the player plays just behind the striker and is responsible for creating chances for the striker to score.

Teams also use the Number 10 position to overload the midfield and create numerical superiority in the center of the field. This allows the team to dominate possession, control the game, and wear defenses out.

Another strategy used by teams is to play the #10 in a free role, giving them the freedom to roam around the field and create chances from different areas. I’ve noticed that this is becoming more common on club teams that have a midfielder who is smart and can cover a lot of ground. This type of player can inject themselves into plays without exposing weak spots on the defensive end.

Impact of #10 on Soccer Culture

Parent & Fan Perception

The number 10 jersey has become synonymous with creative playmaking and skillful attacking play. 

Fans across the world have come to associate the 10 with a team’s most talented player, and it has become a symbol of excellence in soccer. 

Many fans even believe that the player wearing the number 10 has a certain level of responsibility to lead the team to victory. Often times in professional soccer, they are the captain.

Media Portrayal

The media has actually played a significant role in shaping the perception of the number 10 in soccer. Many players who have worn the number 10 on the back of their jerseys have been used in advertisements, promotions, and marketing campaigns to sell everything from soccer cleats to soft drinks. Then again, this might just be the byproduct of the best player wearing the jersey number.

The media has also contributed to the mythos surrounding the number 10 by giving it a mystical and almost magical quality. The number 10 is often portrayed as a symbol of creativity, flair, and genius on the soccer field.

History of the Number 10 in Soccer

Origins

The history of the number 10 jersey is similar to that of other numbers worn by soccer players.

Initially, numbers were assigned to different positions on the field, ranging from 1 to 11. This system made it easy to identify the area of the field and position a player was playing. It’s believed this was started back in the early 1920s. 

Famous Number 10s in the Past

One of the most famous number 10s in soccer history is Pele. He wore the number 10 jersey for Brazil and is considered by many to be the greatest player of all time. Pele won three World Cups with Brazil and scored over 1,000 goals in his career.

Another famous number 10 is Diego Maradona. He wore the number 10 jersey for Argentina and is known for his “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup. Maradona is considered one of the greatest soccer players of all time and won the World Cup with Argentina in 1986.

Lionel Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the MLS, is another famous player who wore number 10. He has won numerous awards, including seven Ballon d’Or titles, and is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world.

Frequently Asked Questions