Historically belonging to a proper winger, the quantity 7 shirt has been worn by a number of the recreation’s all-time greats – whether or not taking part in in that position or not.
All of us absolutely have our personal participant who we affiliate greater than anybody else with the quantity 7 – does yours characteristic on our listing…?
Son Heung-min
Son Heung-min taking part in for Tottenham in 2023 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
The best Asian footballer of all time, Son Heung-min has worn the quantity 7 shirt for Tottenham and his nation, South Korea, additionally serving as captain of either side.
In 2021/22, the lighting-quick former Bayer Leverkusen ahead received the Premier League Golden Boot with 23 objectives in 35 video games for Spurs.
Robert Pires
Robert Pires taking part in for Arsenal in opposition to Fulham, 2003 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
An exceptionally elegant winger who dazzled for Arsenal, France and extra, Robert Pires suited the quantity 7 completely.
The 1998 World Cup winner and Euro 2000 champion wore it in two Premier League title-winning seasons with the Gunners, together with the Invincibles marketing campaign of 2003/04, earlier than additionally sporting 7 at Villarreal.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger taking part in for Germany in opposition to Brazil within the 2014 World Cup semi-finals (Picture credit score: Alamy)
One of many best midfielders on this planet through the late 2000s and early 2010s, Bastian Schweinsteiger was Germany’s quantity 7 en path to 2014 World Cup glory.
A extremely versatile operator, he really donned the quantity 31 jersey at membership stage – for 2 of the sport’s greatest names: Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
Raul
Raul celebrates after scoring for Actual Madrid in opposition to Vasco da Gama within the 1998 Intercontinental Cup (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Actual Madrid and Spain legend Raul made the quantity 7 his personal for membership and nation, scoring loads of objectives for each.
A 3-time Champions League winner and two-time LaLiga prime goalscorer with Madrid, the 2001 Ballon d’Or runner-up stored his favoured quantity following his swap to Schalke in 2010.
David Villa
David Villa scores for Spain in opposition to Russia at Euro 2008 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
One other icon of the Spanish recreation, David Villa starred prominently in his nation’s Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup triumphs, sporting the 7 shirt at each tournaments.
Villa had the identical quantity at Valencia and Barcelona, successful the LaLiga title and Champions League with the latter in 2010/11 below Pep Guardiola.
Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko taking part in for Milan in 2003 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Ukraine’s best-ever participant, Andriy Shevchenko took the pitch with 7 on his again for Dynamo Kyiv, Milan and his nation alike.
The all-time main marksman within the Milan derby, the 2004 Ballon d’Or winner racked up near 400 profession objectives, tasting success in Serie A and the Champions League with the Rossoneri .
Franck Ribery
Franck Ribery taking part in for Bayern Munich in 2013 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Up there with the best wingers on the planet in his prime, Franck Ribery shone for a few years as Bayern Munich’s quantity 7, additionally sporting it for France.
Capped 81 occasions by Les Bleus , Ribery helped Bayern to quite a few main honours, together with 9 Bundesliga titles between 2008 and 2019 and the 2012/13 Champions League.
David Beckham
David Beckham celebrates after scoring England’s successful objective, a penalty, in opposition to Argentina on the 2002 World Cup (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Probably the most immediately recognisable footballers – or sportsmen full cease, for that matter – of the late 90s and early 00s, David Beckham was synonymous with the quantity 7.
Becks wore it for Manchester United and, maybe most notably, England, together with the captain’s armband for the latter at three main tournaments.
Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona taking part in for Manchester United in 1997 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Eric Cantona took Manchester United’s 7 shirt forward of the 1993/94 season, because the Premier League launched one thing.
And with that quantity on his again, the inimitable Frenchman, a four-time Prem champion with United, produced a number of the competitors’s most memorable moments – together with quite a few particular objectives and one involving one other form of kicking…
Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish taking part in for Liverpool in 1978 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Liverpool and Scotland’s greatest-ever participant, Kenny Dalglish loved immense success through the 70s and 80s.
The 1983 Ballon d’Or runner-up helped the Reds to a few of their best triumphs sporting 7 on his again, scoring the successful objective within the 1978 European Cup remaining earlier than lifting that individual trophy twice extra.
Luis Figo
Luis Figo taking part in for Portugal on the 2002 World Cup (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Among the many best wingers of all time, Luis Figo was Actual Madrid’s quantity 10 however Barcelona and Portugal’s quantity 7.
The 2000 Ballon d’Or winner starred in two LaLiga title wins with Barca, amongst different successes, earlier than his massively controversial switch to Madrid, and captained his nation to the ultimate of Euro 2004 on residence soil.
Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan shakes arms with Italy captain Dino Zoff forward of their Euro 1980 group match (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Recipient of back-to-back Ballons d’Or in 1978 and 1979, Kevin Keegan was one of many easiest gamers of his era.
As legendary Liverpool quantity 7, the distinctively permed ahead’s honours included the membership’s maiden European Cup victory of 1976/77, whereas he additionally wore that shirt as England skipper at Euro 1980.
Jairzinho
Jairzinho taking part in for Brazil in opposition to Argentina on the 1974 World Cup (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Maybe mostly related together with his unimaginable solo objective in opposition to Czechoslovakia on the 1970 World Cup, Jairzinho is undoubtedly considered one of Brazil’s greatest-ever gamers.
The distinctively afroed extensive man helped his nation to glory at that version of the match, taking the 7 jersey which he would retain for the 1974 finals.
Garrincha
Garrincha pictured at Botafogo in 1961 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Brazil’s 11 en path to victory on the 1958 World Cup, the good Garrincha took the quantity 7 shirt for the 1962 finals.
And, with Pele injured for a lot of the match, the person thought to be one of many best dribblers within the historical past of the sport scooped the Golden Ball and Golden Boot as Brazil retained their crown.
George Greatest
George Greatest taking part in for Manchester United in 1971 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Unquestionably among the many easiest British gamers ever, George Greatest commonly dazzled as Manchester United’s quantity 7.
The Northern Irish icon performed an integral half in two First Division title triumphs at Outdated Trafford, earlier than serving to United turn out to be England’s first European champions in 1968, the 12 months he received the Ballon d’Or.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring for Actual Madrid, 2014 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Yet one more of the greatest footballers of all time to take to the pitch with the quantity 7 on his again, Cristiano Ronaldo banged within the objectives and swept up the trophies in that shirt for Manchester United, Actual Madrid, Juventus and Portugal.
So synonymous with it’s the five-time Ballon d’Or winner that he’s lengthy been recognized merely as CR7.
