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In the early days of soccer, your number defined the position you played: number one was a goalkeeper, nine a striker, six a holding midfielder and three a left back. The number 11 was reserved for the left winger as the number was always the last on a lineup list.
In modern soccer, there’s a lot less emphasis on strict numerical positions, and there were some fantastic players who played on the left or elsewhere that made the number 11 their own.
What Soccer Players Are Number 11?
Ryan Giggs
Slotting in on the left of Sir Alex’s 4-4-2, Giggs terrorized the Premier League. Appearing in over 600 matches for Manchester United, Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League crowns, four FA Cups and a host of other accolades.
He spent 24 years in Manchester as a player and is considered one of the best to ever grace the Premier League and to wear the number 11 shirt.
Romario
Romario was a proven goalscorer for PSV, Barcelona and Brazil. At PSV, Romario scored 96 goals in five years. Then he earned a move to Barcelona to be a part of Johann Cruyff’s “Dream Team” of the 90s.
For Brazil, Romario scored 55 goals in 70 appearances, and he won the World Cup in 1994, being a key figure in the team. After a great career spanning five different continents, Romário became a politician in Rio De Janeiro.
Rivaldo
Although not a number 11 for a long time, Rivaldo wore the number 11 shirt for AC Milan. Rivaldo is another Brazilian legend that could play on either wing, in the hole or as a central striker. Also playing for Barcelona and a 2002 World Cup winner, Rivaldo was considered one of the best Brazilian players of his generation. His most famous goal is his bicycle kick from outside the box versus Valencia.
Neymar
Neymar wore the 11 shirt at Barcelona and primarily played out on the left of the 4-3-3. Neymar's contribution to the MSN (Messi-Suarez-Neymar) partnership was the stuff of legend. Now playing for PSG, Neymar has been tearing up Ligue 1.
For Brazil, he’s appeared in two World Cups and is currently considered one of the best players in the world.
Didier Drogba
The Ivorian is easily one of the best center forwards the Premier League has ever seen. Getting his start in France, Drogba eventually made his way to Chelsea after Jose Mourinho beseeched Roman Abramovich to buy him. A fan favorite at Stamford Bridge, Drogba led Chelsea to four Premier League titles, a Champions League and four FA Cups. Considered one of the best African strikers to ever play, Drogba is a no brainer on this list.
Francisco Gento (Pictured In The Front Of The Madrid Line)
A Real Madrid legend, Francisco Gento is highly regarded in Madrid and in Spain as one of the country’s greatest ever players. An incredibly quick left winger, Gento played over 400 matches for Real, scoring 128 goals. Gento appeared in a record eight European Cup finals, tied with Paolo Maldini. He also won 12 La Liga titles and six European Cups.
Miroslav Klose
A proven goalscorer, Klose was one of the most highly regarded strikers in the world, especially at the World Cup. Playing in an impressive four World Cups, Klose is the record goalscorer in the competition with 16.
Klose spent most of his club career days in Germany, playing for Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich. He played for Lazio in the twilight of his career, being one of the very few to ever score five goals in a Serie A match.
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