The jersey number 7 is iconic in football. Many kids, who are into football, want this number on the back of their shirts as it is worn by some of the best players over the years.
While any player can choose any available number for a jersey at a club, there are some numbers suited for their specific positions. For example, a goalkeeper is generally Number 1, the defenders are generally between 2 and 5 while a defensive midfielder is generally Number 6. An attacking midfielder is Number 10 and a striker is Number 9.
In a similar fashion, the Number 7 generally denotes a winger, mostly a left winger in a team. They are known for their dribbling skills, goalscoring, flair and entertainment. They provide an attacking outlet for their teams and are often tasked with combining with their striker to help bring in goals and assists.
Hence, the players who wore the jersey Number 7 are also adored and followed by fans across the world. On that note, let’s take a look at some of the most famous players to have donned this number:
10. Son Heung-min
Son is one of the most popular wingers in the world, having traveled the journey from South Korea to the Premier League in his career. He played for some South Korean clubs before moving to Germany and played for Hamburg and Bayer Leverkusen before joining Tottenham Hotspur in 2015.
Son is a proper superstar in South Korea and is also widely known as one of the nicest people in football. He has also won numerous individual awards like the Puskas Award, Premier League Golden Boot, and more.
9. Garrincha
Mane Garrincha had a disability in his spine and legs. He still became one of the most important players for Brazil, winning the FIFA World Cup twice – 1958 and 1962. He was known for his ability to get past multiple players with ease.
Also Read: Best Brazilian footballers of all time
8. Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona is one of the most iconic figures in Premier League and Manchester United history. His long-sleeved shirt with unfolded collars became famous instantly as he achieved immense success at the club.
Cantona won five Premier League titles, among other honors, with Manchester United and two Ligue 1 titles with Olympique Marseille. He was known for his fiery nature, which saw him gather plenty of red cards and bans.
7. Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan played for the likes of Liverpool, Hamburg SV, and Newcastle United, wearing jersey Number 7 with all of them. He made over 300 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 100 goals and providing 87 assists.
Keegan won one UEFA Champions League and three Premier League trophies, among numerous other honors. He also played over 60 games for England.
6. Raul
Raul is one of the most famous forwards in football history. He played as a striker, second striker, and winger and achieved great success in each position. He made over 700 appearances for Real Madrid and is their third-highest scorer of all time with 323 goals.
Raul won three Champions League and seven La Liga titles, among numerous other honors. He also played for the likes of Schalke 04 and New York Cosmos, winning numerous trophies.
5. George Best
George Best was one of the best-ever players to don jersey Number 7. He achieved great success with Manchester United, making over 400 appearances and registering 161 goals and 11 assists. He won two league titles and one Champions League, among numerous other honors.
Known for his dribbling skills, tricks, and directness, Best also won the Ballon d’Or in 1968.
Also Read: Top 10 Manchester United goal scorers of all time
4. Luis Figo
Luis Figo is a bonafide legend in football history. He played for the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, and AC Milan, achieving greatness with them. He also won the Ballon d’Or in 2000.
Figo had already won multiple trophies with Barcelona before he made the infamous switch to Real Madrid, where he won one Champions League and two La Liga titles, among other honors. He then moved to Inter Milan and won multiple trophies, including four Serie A titles.
3. Andriy Shevchenko
Another Ballon d’Or winner on the list, Andriy Shevchenko won his in 2004 after his excellent performances with AC Milan. He made over 320 appearances for the Italian giants in his career, scoring 175 goals and providing 46 assists.
Shevchenko won one Champions League trophy and one Serie A title with them, among multiple other trophies. He also played for the likes of Dynamo Kyiv and Chelsea but his stint with the latter was a bit underwhelming.
2. David Beckham
David Beckham is one of the most iconic footballers of all time, let alone someone who wore the jersey Number 7.
Along with being a world-class footballer, Beckham was also known for his style and fashion one and off the pitch. His impact on the world around sports is unparalleled. On the pitch, he played for the likes of Manchester United and Real Madrid, winning loads of trophies.
Beckham won six Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and one La Liga, among other honors. He also played for the likes of PSG, AC Milan and LA Galaxy.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
One of the greatest players of all time is also the most famous footballer to have worn the jersey Number 7 for almost all of his playing career.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the only male player to have scored over 900 goals for club and country. He’s won five Ballons d’Or, five Champions Leagues, three Premier Leagues, two La Ligas, and numerous other trophies.
He played for the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, breaking records and winning trophies with each of them. Ronaldo has also won the UEFA Euro and the Nations League with Portugal.
FAQs
Q. Who is the greatest athlete to wear number 7?
A. There are many famous athletes to have worn jersey number 7 like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, MS Dhoni, etc.
Q. Which famous fooball players have jersey number 7?
A. Currently, there are many famous players like Son Heung-min, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vinicius Jr., who don the jersey number 7.
Also Read: Top 10 Premier League wingers of all time