10 greatest players to wear the coveted number 10 jersey

#3 Pele

Pele was the first big global superstar of football

Michel Platini was quoted saying, "To play like Pele is to play like God." The Brazilian was the first superstar of world football and captured the imagination of the world with his brilliant goalscoring feats and amazing trickery. He donned the number 10 jersey for Brazil, for whom he won a record three World Cups.

Brazil, with Pele in the side, are often termed as the best team of all-time, and the attacking quality in that team is still unmatched by any team since then. Pele was called the "King of Football" for his sublime goal tally coupled with his trophy cabinet.

---

#2 Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina

Diego Armando Maradona was more than a footballer. He was a saviour to his country, and to his clubs, Napoli and Boca Juniors. Maradona was a one-man army and he succeeded in becoming one of the best players to grace the world.

Sporting the number 10 jersey, he scored many magical goals, which include the 'goal of the century' against England in 1986. The Argentinian legend was a classic number 10, a perfect trequartista whose dribbling was second to none.

Napoli retired the number 10 shirt in honour of their greatest ever player. His vision, goalscoring abilities and legacy have ensured that he has cemented a place among the greats of the game.

---

#1 Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi has a record six Ballon d'Or awards to his name

The Argentine might not have played in a traditional number 10 position in his career, but he embodies the fundamental idea of having the number 10 on the back. It is said that the best player in a team usually wears the coveted shirt and who else is/was better than "La Pulga".

Many critics have said that Messi cannot be termed as 'the best of all-time' without a World Cup to his name, but to justify his greatness, one has to look at the statistics and the sheer number of trophies that he has amassed.

One Spanish commentator put it quite simply and rightly to describe Messi after he scored a magical goal: "Say thanks to your mothers that she gave birth to you so that you can see Lionel Messi live."