Who is the best number 10 in football right now? Find out here

Who is the best number 10 in football right now? Find out here

Grace Waruguru
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:28 PM

Football fans have wondered, ''Who is the best number 10 in football?'' The star-attacking midfielder, also called the playmaker, plays a significant role in the success of a team's performance. Keep reading and discover the top number 10s in the current football scene.

best number 10 in football
Leo Messi of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 match against Stade Rennes at Parc des Princes on March 19, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images

Who wears number 10 in football? Number 10 symbolizes myth and strength and is an earned jersey figure worn by the team's top player. Players in this position work closely with the main striker. So, who is the best number 10 in football?

Best football number 10s in 2023

In previous years, number 10 was about functionality and skills. Today, the jersey number symbolizes the status and reputation of the individual players. Here is a list of players who have been the best number 10 in football history:

1. Lionel Messi

best number 10 in football
Leo Messi looks on during a PSG training session on March 10, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Aurelien Meunier
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Lionel Andrés Messi
  • Teams: Paris Saint-Germain F.C, Argentina national football team
  • Date of birth: June 24, 1987

Messi is arguably the greatest football player of all time and ranks first among the top 10 best number 10 in football. The Paris Saint-Germain F.C. (PSG) and Argentine national football team forward attained the maximum number of Ballon d'Or awards of all time (7). His jersey number with PSG is 30, but his multiple talents match 9, 10, and 11.

2. Kylian Mbappe

best number 10 in football history
Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain during the Ligue 1 match against Stade Rennes at Parc des Princes on March 19, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Xavier Laine
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Kylian Mbappé Lottin
  • Teams: PSG, France national football team
  • Date of birth: December 20, 1998

Renowned French player, Mbappe, plays for his national team and PSG and is among the world's best number 10s in football. However, at PSG, Kylian wears jersey number 7 but plays as a forward for both teams.

3. Neymar Jr.

best number 10 in football history
Neymar Jr of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Lille OSC at Parc des Princes on February 19, 2023, in Paris, France. Photo: Sylvain Lefevre
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior
  • Teams: PSG, Brazil national football team
  • Date of birth: February 5, 1992

Neymar is among the current soccer players with number 10. He plays as a forward for PSG and the Brazil national football team. He is a one-time Footballer of the Year and a 4-time Top Goal scorer.

4. Luka Modric

best number 10 in football 2023
Luka Modric of Real Madrid during the LaLiga Santander match against FC Barcelona at Spotify Camp Nou on March 19, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Alex Caparros
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Luka Modric
  • Teams: Croatian national football team, Real Madrid F.C
  • Date of birth: September 9, 1985

Croatian footballer Luka Modric is a midfielder at Real Madrid and the Croatian national football team, which he also captains. Some of his achievements include winning the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award in 2018 and the Croatian Footballer of the Year in 2007, 2008, and 2011.

5. Pele

best number 10 in football ever
Soccer Legend Pele Visits Olympic Stadium in Barcelona on September 2, 2017, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Xavi Torrent
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Edson Arantes do Nascimento
  • Teams: Santos, New York Cosmos
  • Date of birth: October 23, 1940
  • Date of death: December 29, 2022

The late Brazilian footballer Pele died in December 2022 but is remembered as the best number 10 in football of all time, thanks to his exemplary all-round skills on the pitch. In addition, Edson is the only player who won three World Cups.

6. Diego Maradona

world best number 10 in football
Diego Armando Maradona looks on before a match between Boca Juniors and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata as part of Superliga 2019/20 at Alberto J. Armando Stadium on March 7, 2020. Photo: Gustavo Garello
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Diego Armando Maradona
  • Teams: Argentina national football team
  • Date of birth: October 30, 1960
  • Date of death: November 25, 2020

Former Argentine player and manager Diego Maradona has been acknowledged as the greatest player in football history. He is also one of the best number 10 in football of all time. Diego passed away in November 2020 and was the Argentina football team's Number 10 (midfielder)

7. Zinedine Zidane

best number 10 in football premier league
Former Real Madrid player and manager Zinedine Zidane before the match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 22, 2022. Photo: Angel Martinez
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Zinedine Yazid Zidane
  • Teams: Real Madrid, Cannes, Juventus, Bordeaux
  • Date of birth: June 23, 1972

Zidane is a professional football manager and former player who held the attacking midfielder position. He is among the best number 10s in football ever, with the most FIFA World Cup final matches scored and six FIFA World Cup Player of the Year awards, the most in history.

8. Ronaldinho

top 10 best number 10 in football
Ronaldinho of Porcinos FC during round 8 of the Kings League Tournament 2023 at CUPRA Arena Stadium on February 26, 2023, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Xavi Torrent
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Ronaldo de Assis Moreira
  • Teams: Barcelona FC, PSG, AC Milan, Brazil national team
  • Date of birth: March 21, 1980

42-year-old Ronaldinho is a retired player who was a midfielder for Barcelona F.C. He is among the best number 10s in football Premier League. He was the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2006 and the UEFA Club Forward of the Year in 2005.

9. Mesut Ozil

best current number 10 in football
Mesut Oezil before the UEFA Europa Conference League match between Istanbul Basaksehir and ACF Fiorentina on September 15, 2022, in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: Ahmad Mora
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Mesut Ozil
  • Teams: İstanbul Başakşehir F.K
  • Date of birth: October 15, 1988

German footballer, Mesut Ozil, is among the best current number 10s in football. The 34-year-old is an attacking midfielder for İstanbul Başakşehir F.K and is a one-time Player of The Year and World Cup winner.

10. Wayne Rooney

best current number 10 in football
D.C. United coach Wayne Rooney before a game against New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium on August 13, 2022, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Photo: Andrew Katsampes
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Wayne Mark Rooney
  • Teams: Everton, Manchester United, D.C United
  • Date of birth: October 24, 1985

English footballer Wayne Rooney also makes it to the list of the best number 10s in football. He is a retired player who was a forward and midfielder for various clubs. According to operanews.co.ke, Rooney is the best number 10 in Manchester United's history.

The best number 10 in football right now embodies multiple talents and the ability to excel in numerous positions as required. With more players rising to take up these positions of influence and status, netizens will look out for what lies ahead for the top 10.

READ ALSO: Who are the best strikers in the world?

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Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Robert Lewandowski are the top three strikers worldwide. Check out the complete list of strikers in the article above.

Authors
Grace Waruguru photo
Grace Waruguru
Grace has over 4 years of experience in article writing and digital media content creation for various local and global brands. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication (Public Relations) from Daystar University, Kenya.