Who are the 10 most famous soccer players with number 24?

Who are the 10 most famous soccer players with number 24?

Grace Waruguru
April 19, 2024 at 12:50 AM
In this article:
Andrés Iniesta logo
A.Iniesta
Emirates Club logoMSpain logo
Gary Cahill logo
G. Cahill
Bournemouth AFC logoDEngland logo
Joe Allen logo
J.Allen
Swansea City logoMWales logo

Who are the soccer players with number 24? The soccer world has experienced exceptional talent from various individuals who have earned their spots among the best. These players have represented club and country at different competitions. In this article, discover the players who rocked this unique jersey number.

Soccer players with number 24
Andrés Iniesta (L), Hector Bellerin (C), and Gary Cahil (R) are some of the best players who have worn the number 24 jersey. Photo: @andresiniesta8, @hectorbellerin, @garyjcahil (Modified by author)
Source: Instagram

Table of Сontents:

What does jersey number 24 in soccer mean? Footballers wear the jersey during their early careers as they wait for the number matching their position to be available. Read on and discover the top soccer players with number 24, as analyzed by several online sources.

Most famous soccer players with number 24

These footballers have excelled in different positions and roles, flying the jersey high worldwide. So, what football players wore number 24?

Soccer players with number 24

Joe Allen

Hector Bellerin

Gary Cahil

Darren Fletcher

Corentin Tolisso

Claude Makélélé

Abou Diaby

Cheick Tiote

Carles Puyol

Andrés Iniesta

10. Joe Allen

Joe Allen
Joe Allen waits to comment on the UEFA EURO 2024 Play-Offs Semi-final between Wales and Finland at Cardiff City Stadium on March 21, 2024, in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Huw Fairclough
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Joseph Michael Allen
  • Date of birth: March 14th, 1990
  • Nationality: Welsh
  • Current team: Swansea City

Joe Allen is an English midfielder and one of the pro soccer players with number 24. He started playing at 16 and spent his early career with Swansea City, where he wore the jersey. He continued wearing it between 2012 and 2016 when he played for Liverpool.

Allen played for the Wales national team from 2009 to 2022, earning 74 caps. He represented his country at the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020 and helped them qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1958.

9. Hector Bellerin

Hector Bellerin
Hector Bellerin of Real Betis at the La Liga EA Sports match between Cadiz CF and Real Betis at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on February 09, 2024, in Cadiz, Spain. Photo: Fran Santiago
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Héctor Bellerín Moruno
  • Date of birth: March 19th, 1995
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Current team: Real Betis

Hector is among the famous footballers who wore number 24 during his tenure with Arsenal (2013-2022). The athlete won the FA Cup in 2016, 2017, and 2020 and the FA Community Shield in 2015, 2017, and 2020.

Bellerin currently plays right-back or wing-back for La Liga's Real Betis. He also played for the Spanish national team between 2011 and 2021.

8. Gary Cahill

Gary Cahill
Gary Cahill at the Sky Bet Championship match between Bournemouth and Millwall at the Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth on Saturday 7th May 2022,. Photo: Tom West
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Gary James Cahil
  • Date of birth: December 19th, 1985
  • Nationality: English
  • Current team: Retired

Gary Cahil is a former English professional footballer who wore number 24 in football since arriving at Chelsea in 2012. The centre-back started his career with Aston Villa before joining clubs like Boston Wanderers, Crystal Palace, and AFC Bournemouth.

Cahil also played for the England national team from 2004 to 2018. He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea and two UEFA Europa Leagues. The athlete also won the Premier League ((2015 and 2017), the FA Cup (2012 and 2018), and the League Cup (2015).

7. Darren Fletcher

Darren Fletcher
Darren Fletcher during the UEFA Champions League match between F.C. Copenhagen and Manchester United at Parken Stadium on November 08, 2023, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Photo: James Gill - Danehouse
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Darren Barr Fletcher
  • Date of birth: February 1, 1984
  • Nationality: Scottish
  • Team: Manchester United (Technical Director)

Darren is a former midfielder who spent his playing years with Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City. He wore the number 24 jersey throughout his 16-year career. Fletcher also played for the Scotland national team from 2002 to 2017.

Fletcher lifted several trophies, including the Premier League Cup and FA Community Shield. He also won the Victory Shield with Scotland in 1998.

6. Corentin Tolisso

Corentin Tolisso
Corentin Tolisso at the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between RC Strasbourg and Olympique Lyon at Stade de la Meinau on August 13, 2023, in Strasbourg, France. Photo: Marcio Machado
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Corentin Tolisso
  • Date of birth: August 3rd, 1994
  • Nationality: French
  • Team: Olympique Lyonnais

Corentin Tolisso is among the professional soccer players with the number 24. He wore the jersey number at Lyon and Bayern Munich (2017-2022). Tolisso is a central midfielder who played for France from 2012 to 2021.

Tolisso won five consecutive Bundesliga titles (2018-2022) and one FIFA World Cup (2018). He started his career as a forward before becoming a central midfielder.

5. Claude Makélélé

Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé poses on the red carpet before the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards ceremony in Paris on May 8, 2023. Photo: Julien De Rosa
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Claude Makélélé Sinda
  • Date of birth: February 18th, 1973
  • Nationality: Congolese
  • Team: Retired

Legendary footballer Claude Makélélé is undoubtedly among the best soccer players, with number 24. He spent his career with clubs like Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain, rocking the jersey throughout his stay in Madrid.

Claude played for the French national team from 1993 to 2008. He won the Premier League with Chelsea in 2005 and 2006 and the UEFA Champions League in 2008. In 2005, the player made it to the FIFPro World XI.

4. Abou Diaby

Abou Diaby
Abou Diaby at a press conference on March 16, 2016, at the Robert Louis-Dreyfus training centre in Marseille, Southeastern France. Photo: Franck Pennant
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Vassiriki Abou Diaby
  • Date of birth: May 11th, 1986
  • Nationality: French
  • Team:

Abou Diaby spent nine years with Arsenal (2006-2015). Previously, he played for AJ Auxerre, where he wore a number 24 jersey. He played for the French national team and was part of the under-19 squad that won the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

3. Cheick Tiote

Cheick Tiote
Cheick Tiote attends a Newcastle United training session at the Little Benton training ground on September 16, 2011, in Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Photo: Ian Horrocks
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Cheick Ismaël Tioté
  • Date of birth: June 21st, 1986
  • Died: June 5th, 2017
  • Nationality: Senegalese

The late Cheick Tiote was among the famous soccer players with number 24. He started his professional career in 2005 and played with clubs like Twente, New Castle United, and Beijing Enterprises Group. The athlete also represented his country from 2009 to 2015.

He won the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations and represented his country in two FIFA World Cups. BBC reported that Tiote died in June 2017 following a cardiac arrest during a training session in Beijing, China. Beijing Enterprises Group retired his jersey on June 24th, 2017, to honour him.

2. Carles Puyol

Carles Puyol
Carles Puyol at the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Deportivo Alaves at Camp Nou on December 21, 2019, in Barcelona, Spain. Photo: Xavier Bonilla
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Carles Puyol Saforcada
  • Date of birth: April 13th, 1978
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Team: Retired

Carles Puyol is among the most successful soccer players with jersey number 24, which he wore during his early career. The Spanish athlete spent his entire career with Barcelona and Spain's national team. He is recognized as one of the greatest defenders and team captains of all time, winning 18 major trophies.

1. Andrés Iniesta

Andrés Iniesta
Andrés Iniesta of Vissel Kobe during the pre-season friendly match between Vissel Kobe and Barcelona at National Stadium on June 06, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Koji Watanabe
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Andrés Iniesta Luján
  • Date of birth: May 11th, 1984
  • Nationality: Spanish
  • Team: Emirates Club

Andrés Iniesta is a midfielder for the UAE Pro League Club Emirates and is considered one of the best of all time. He spent his early career with Barcelona, wearing the number 24 jersey in his early stages before breaking into the first team. After leaving Barca in 2018, he moved to Vissel Kobe, a Japanese club.

Iniesta played for Spain from 2000 to 2018 and won the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 UEFA Euro. He is the most decorated Spanish player of all time.

Frequently asked questions

The jersey number 24 is unique because it is beyond the regular player jerseys. What are some frequently asked questions about the players with number 24?

Claude Makélélé
Claude Makélélé at the preseason friendly match between Swansea City and Sampdoria at The Liberty Stadium on August 5, 2017, in Swansea, Wales. Photo: Athena Pictures
Source: Getty Images

What does the jersey number 24 mean in football?

The jersey is usually assigned to players who have just started their careers. The number 24 means that their preferred number was unavailable or another player who quickly rose through the ranks has taken their position in the starting lineup.

Did Claude Makélélé wear jersey number 24?

The former footballer is one of the best players to wear the jersey. He wore it throughout his stay in Madrid, played for Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, and represented the French national team.

Final word

These soccer players, number 24, have earned impressive titles on different teams globally. While some are retired or deceased, others continue to make waves in the sport and have taken up new jerseys for particular positions.

READ ALSO: Best jersey numbers in soccer

Sports Brief published an article listing the best jersey numbers in soccer according to players and fans. Some have gained popularity because of the legendary players who wore them. Number 8 is among the best jersey numbers worn by legends like Andres Iniesta and Steven Gerrard. Check out the complete list of iconic jerseys in the above link.

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.