Footballers number 9: 10 best number 9’s in football history

The number 9 role is arguably the most prestigious on the football pitch. Great goalscorers quickly become fan favourites. Let us look into some of the greatest names ever to play the position as the best number 9's in football history.

It is very easy for strikers to be valuable assets to a team, especially if they are good at their jobs. In most teams, the strikers are the highest-paid players.

Who wears number 9 in soccer?

Most players in the no 9 position are tasked with being the focal point in attack. Most of the great players on this list not only scored many goals but did it with style and panache.

10. Alan Shearer

Former England striker Alan Shearer is the best number 9 in the history of the English Premier League with 260 goals. He also had 30 goals for the English national team.

9. Zlatan Ibrahimović

The mercurial Swede has performed consistently since debuting in 1999 at Malmo. He has played for several of Europe's elite teams, including Ajax, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan, PSG and Manchester United. He broke the Serie A record for the oldest goalscorer in the competition when he scored against Udinese in March 2023, aged 41 years old.

8. Luis Suárez

Nicknamed ' El Pistolero' (The pistol), Suárez has been phenomenal at the club and international levels. He won the 2011 Copa America with Uruguay. He has also starred for Ajax, Liverpool, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. At Barcelona, he was part of their successful 2015/16 'MSN' trio alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.

7. Robert Lewandowski

Lewandowski has been a household name in global football within the past ten years. The Poland captain has been prolific for Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and now at La Liga side Barcelona. He won the Bundesliga top goalscorer award in seven separate seasons. He also won the Best FIFA men's player awards in 2020 and 2021.

6. Gabriel Batistuta

Nicknamed ' Bati-gol', Batistuta was Argentina's immediate heir to the great Diego Maradona. After starting in Argentina, he made his mark in Italy with Fiorentina, Roma and Inter Milan. Internationally, he won the 1991 and 1993 Copa America titles for Argentina.

5. Thierry Henry

French striker Thierry Henry is considered the best player in the history of Arsenal Football Club. He is the club's record all-time goalscorer with 228 goals. He also played for Monaco, Juventus, Barcelona and New York Red Bulls. With the French national team, he won the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.

4. Marco van Basten

Marco van Basten was the centrepiece of the Dutch's golden generation of the 80s. He started with Dutch giants Ajax winning three titles in 6 years and the European cup in 1987. Van Basten then moved to AC Milan, where he won 3 more league titles and another two European cups. For the Netherlands, he won the European Championships in 1988. Van Basten was named the Ballon D' or winner three times and the FIFA World Player of the year in 1992. He retired aged 28 in 1994 due to a knee injury.

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3. Gerd Müller

Gerd Müller is arguably the best number 9 of the 20th century. Müller dominated the 70's, winning the 1972 European championships and the 1974 FIFA World Cup. With Germany, he won 3 European championships and 4 Bundesliga titles.

2. Alfredo Stéfano

Alfredo Stéfano was born in Argentina in 1926. He played in Colombia and Argentina, winning multiple accolades before landing in Spain in 1953 to play for Real Madrid. He won the European Cup 5 times with the club as long as numerous domestic accolades. He scored 410 goals for the club, a total only surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

1. Ronaldo Nazário

Fondly referred to by his fans as ' R9', Ronaldo Nazário De Lima is widely considered the most significant number 9 in history. The Brazilian won multiple accolades with PSV, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan. His most significant impact on football was at the World Cup, where he won the 1994 and 2002 editions.

These strikers redefined the forward position in football with their consistency and greatness. The reason they rank high above the others is the fact that their actions and achievements define the template of how a footballer should play number 9.

SportsBrief recently ranked the top 10 famous number 11 football players. The number 11 position is one of the most technical areas of the pitch, with the players being required to be technical and skilful. Mohamed Salah is an example of a player who plays number 11 on the pitch. Check the list above to see the best in that position globally.