The best Players to have donned the number 7 jersey

When matches are being played today, everyones eyes are always searching for whoever is wearing the number 7 jersey. Why? Having such an illustrious history, No. 7 in football, is regarded as a number given only to the very best of players; so naturally, people expect whoever is wearing the No.7 to play a game above the rest; to stand out and make the difference and carry the team to victory and glory. Usually a number given to prolific wingers, nowadays we also see the number sported by center midfielders and strikers. Here is a list of all the greatest players who have donned this particularJersey:

#10 Kenny Daglish (Scotland)

Kenny Daglish, the hero of Liverpool, also sported the No. 7 jersey during his time. Regarded as one of the best strikers to have ever played in the beautiful game, it’s no wonder he fits into that number with ease. When he first joined Liverpool, he was replacing another legend Kevin Keegan and taking his number. A lot of fans were skeptical whether Daglish would be able to play up to the standards that the number asks him to, but to everyone’s delight, Kenny Daglish delivered.

#9 George Best (N. Ireland)

George best, the original bad boy of Football, wore the No. 7 during his time at Manchester United. Best began his career in England with Manchester United, who had spotted his talent at the age of 15. He went on to have a successful career run with United, scoring 179 goals from 470 appearances over 11 years. His playing style was characterized by his pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goal scoring, deftness to beat defenders and his ability to combine all of them. He is also regarded as the best player of Northern Ireland and is hailed as the best player in the world by Pele.

#8 Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine)

The English public might forever view him as a Chelsea flop, but the Ukrainian legend had so much aura around him that the entire country looked up to him whenever they participated in world tournaments. He won the Champions League with AC Milan once and had also won the Ballon d’Or in 2004.

#7 David Beckham (England)

At number 7 is one of the guys who made the number his own during his glory days. In all probability he is the most popular player to have ever come from England. Known for his accurate freekicks alongside some stunning hairstyles, David Beckham had a highly successful spell at Manchester United before moving to Real Madrid in 2003.

#6 Luis Figo (Portugal)

Luis Figo, shows the pure class that a player should have for wearing the No. 7. Playing for Portugal, he was a winger renowned for his creativity and having the ability to go past defenders, and is regarded to be one of the best players of his generation. He plied his trade in Sporting Lisbon, Inter Milan and is one of the rare players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid.

#5 Eric Cantona (France)

Fondly called as ‘King Eric” by Manchester United fans, Eric Cantona won four premier league titles in the space of five years and was one of the most iconic players to have played for the club. He would always be remembered for his kung-fu kick incident with the Crystal Palace fan.

#4 Franck Ribery (France)

Franck Ribery is another great player who wears the No. 7 on his Jersey. Playing as a winger for Bayern Munich and for France, he marauds down his wing, dropping defenders as he dribbles past with lightning speed and sending in precise crosses for his strikers. With an impressive work rate, he even covers back to his back line and is also not shy to drive into the box and try out long range efforts.

#3 Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany)

Bastian Schweinsteiger is the man who drives the German machine; so naturally, a No. 7 seems apt for his jersey. Holding the midfield for Germany, Schweinsteiger plays with cold calculative thinking and decisive passing that tear defenses apart. He creates wonderful chances for his attackers and at the same time, supports his back line with tackles, breaking down counter attacks.

#2 Raul Gonzalez (Spain)

Raul Gonzalez, a Real Madrid legend is synonymous to the No. 7. He acquired many fans under that number and became Madrid’s record scorer with a tally of 323 goals in the 16 years that he played there. Moreover, he is regarded to be the greatest ever Spanish player. Raul was a forward with an almost infinite instinct. He was an example for everyone, putting in the maximum effort in every game. Acclaimed in Spain, he conquered Europe. He played his first Champions League game at the age of 18. In 1998 he was in the team that won the club’s Seventh European Cup title beating Juventus Turin in the final. He repeated the experience in 2000 and 2002, scoring in both finals.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Here is a man who has claimed the No. 7 as his own, showing the entire world that a new name is to be on everyone’s lip when they talk of the No. 7 jersey. That name is Cristiano Ronaldo. When Ronaldo first stepped onto the field, his then, thin frame wearing the weighted No. 7 that had been passed down from David Beckham, fans of Manchester United cried in dismay. Who was this young, tiny upstart who dared to wear the stuff of legends? However, those cries of the fans soon turned to shouts of joy once they saw what this Portuguese winger was capable of. The fans watched him grow, into one of the most complete players to ever play in this generation, eclipsing others on the field. He is complete with unmatchable attacking skill, unbound creativity and thunderous long range shots. And now, when one talks of the No. 7, they talk of Ronaldo.