While the numbers 10 and 9 are more famous when it comes to football shirt numbers, the number 11 has also produced some of the best players in the world.
Usually used to represent left wingers, the number 11 has also been worn by strikers; the likes of Didier Drogba, Romario and Rivaldo have all produced some of their best football with the number 11 at the back.
Today, players like Mohamed Salah have made the number famous; the number 11 is no longer reserved for the left winger. Neymar wore the shirt at Barcelona, while the likes of Mesut Özil and James Rodriguez have also adorned it.
We take a look at the: 10 best number 11s of all time in football
#10 ANGEL DI MARIA
One of the best creative players of his generation, Angel Di Maria may have had his name tarnished by just one poor season at Manchester United, but there’s no denying his quality and ability.
After a successful spell at Real Madrid, the Argentine moved to Old Trafford in 2014, before joining Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain for £44m. Currently the number 11 for Paris Saint-Germain and the Argentinian national team, the 32-year-old has been a constant presence for club and country.
Since making his debut for the Parisians, Di Maria has played 295 games in all competitions, scoring 93 goals and providing 119 assists, forming a potent attack with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé. He then moved on to Serie A giants Juventus.
#9 GARETH BALE
Gareth Bale’s final years at Real Madrid may not have gone according to plan, but he played a key role in Los Blancos’ success during his time there.
After making a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur, Bale joined Real Madrid for a then-record fee of £85m in 2013. He was immediately given the No.11 shirt, and would wear the same number throughout his Real Madrid career. The Welsh winger made 258 appearances in all competitions for the Spanish giants, scoring 106 goals and providing 67 assists.
Despite winning four Champions Leagues with the club, the 31-year-old fell out with coach Zinedine Zidane. He then returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan. He joined Los Angeles FC in MLS in 2022, where he eventually retired from the game.
#8 MARCO REUS
One wonders how Marco Reus’ career would have unfolded had it not been for his injuries.
In his youth, Reus was considered one of the best young wingers in the world. Now captain of Borussia Dortmund, the 31-year-old’s career has not collapsed; he continues to play a key role for his club as well as being a constant in the German national team.
However, constant long-term injuries have meant the winger has missed out on some key events, including the 2014 World Cup which Germany won.
The former Borussia Mönchengladbach man has been a key player for Dortmund since joining the club in 2012; he has made 368 appearances in all competitions, scoring 156 goals and providing 117 assists.
Read also: Juventus plan to block players from international duty after Cristiano Ronaldo debacle.
#7 MIROSLAV KLOSE
Miroslav Klose’s achievements for the German national team often tend to overshadow his club performances.
Klose holds the record for most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup (16) and is also Germany’s all-time top scorer. At club level, the 44-year-old made his name with Kaiserslautern before moving on to Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Lazio.
Klose wore Germany’s No11 shirt for most of his career and was also Lazio’s No11. He retired in 2016 and was assistant first-team coach at Bayern Munich. He now manages Austrian Bundesliga side Rheindorf Altach.
#6 MOHAMED SALAH
Regarded as one of the best players in world football, Mohamed Salah’s career has been on an upward trajectory since his arrival at Liverpool.
Premier League club Chelsea bought the Egyptian from Basel in 2014, but Salah has failed to establish himself with the Blues. Loans to Fiorentina and Roma followed, and Roma decided to buy him permanently. A season later, Liverpool paid £37 million for his services.
The Egypt international made 283 appearances in all competitions, scoring 173 goals and providing 69 assists. He played a key role in Liverpool’s Champions League and Premier League triumphs under Jurgen Klopp and continues to be a vital player for the club.
#5 DIDIER DROGBA
One of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League, Didier Drogba is widely regarded as a Chelsea legend.
Drogba wore the number 11 shirt at Chelsea for most of his career. The Ivory Coast international is the club’s fourth all-time top scorer and has also scored more goals than any other foreign player for the Blues. Renowned for his ability to score in finals, the striker was regarded as the ‘ultimate big-match player’.
Drogba represented Chelsea for two spells, making 381 appearances for the club, scoring 164 goals and providing 86 assists. He also wore the number 11 shirt for Côte d’Ivoire, as well as clubs such as Marseille, Galatasaray and Shanghai Shenhua.
#4 FRANCISCO GENTO
Considered one of the best wingers in the history of football, Francisco Gento spent most of his career at Real Madrid.
After starting his career with Racing Santander, Gento joined Real Madrid in 1953. He spent 18 years there, establishing himself on the club’s left wing. The Spanish international made over 600 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 178 goals.
Gento retired in 1971, and went on to manage teams such as Real Madrid Castilla, Palencia and Granada. He is currently Honorary President of Real Madrid.
#3 ROMARIO
Renowned for his finishing ability, Romario is often regarded by many as one of the greatest strikers ever to play football.
Although he has not always worn the number 11 shirt at club level, Romario has been the number 11 for the Brazilian national team for much of his career. The striker represented clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, FC Barcelona and FC Valencia during his playing career, maintaining a healthy scoring ratio at each club.
With Brazil, Romario played 70 matches and scored 55 goals. He retired from sport in 2009 and is currently a politician in Brazil.
#2 RIVALDO
Another Brazilian on this list, Rivaldo, like Romario, is considered one of the greatest strikers to have played football.
Capable of playing in a variety of attacking positions, Rivaldo made his name with Palmeiras and Deportivo La Coruna before joining Barcelona. It was there that the Brazilian established himself as one of the best players in the world, renowned for his goalscoring and technical skills.
He left Barcelona in 2002 and went on to play for AC Milan and Olympiacos. Rivaldo made 74 appearances for Brazil, scoring 35 goals.
#N°1 RYAN GIGGS
Ryan Giggs, one of the greatest footballers of all time, has known only one club, Manchester United, where he has spent his entire career.
After making his debut in 1990, the Wales international made over 950 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 168 goals. During that time, Giggs won 34 trophies with the club, including 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles.
The 46-year-old was also interim manager of Manchester United, before becoming Louis van Gaal’s assistant at the club. He was Wales national team manager from 2018 to 2020.
Leave a Reply