The number 10 shirt has long been romanticised in football. Worn by greats like Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldinho, it once represented the game’s most creative force — a player with the vision, technique, and freedom to dictate the rhythm.
Traditionally, the number 10 was a luxury — the free-roaming artist who operated between the lines. They didn’t track back or press. Instead, they waited for the moment to unlock defences with a sublime pass or mesmerising dribble. Think Francesco Totti or Juan Román Riquelme.
But modern football has changed. The rise of pressing systems and compact midfields has squeezed time and space. Today’s attacking midfielders need to be as industrious off the ball as they are gifted on it. Creativity alone isn’t enough — now the number 10 also has to counter-press, cover ground, and trigger the press.
Players like Kevin De Bruyne, Bruno Fernandes, and Martin Ødegaard still operate with flair but within structured tactical demands. They are creators, yes — but also runners, tacklers, and relentless movers. Some teams, like Liverpool under Jürgen Klopp, have moved away from a pure number 10 role entirely, favouring inside forwards and advanced midfielders instead.
Even formations have adapted. The classic 4-2-3-1 is used less. Many teams now opt for 4-3-3s or fluid systems where creators start wider or deeper. The number 10 still exists, but in new forms — as a hybrid eight, a false nine, or even a playmaking winger.
What hasn’t changed is the need for imagination in tight spaces. As long as defences stay compact, teams will need players with the eye and execution to break them open.
The role of the number 10 isn’t dead — it’s evolved. It now belongs to those who can blend old-school guile with new-school graft.
