Positions & Roles in Soccer by Number
Ever wondered what the number on the back of a player's shirt means in soccer?
Below, we break down what each shirt number (1 to 11) traditionally means, what the role actually does on the pitch, and a classic player who made that number famous.
We’ll also finish with a reality check on how modern football bends the rules, from changing formations to false positions. If you want to put this knowledge to work, head to our soccer hub.
1: The Goalkeeper
The No. 1 is your last line of defence and, increasingly, your first line of attack. Shot-stopping is the headline job, but modern keepers also command the box, sweep up behind a high defensive line, and start build-up with smart distribution.
Think of them as the team’s risk manager: when to claim, when to punch, when to hold, when to go short, when to launch long.
- What They’re Recognised For: Clean sheets, reflex saves, brave one-on-ones, and now passing range, clips into full-backs, fizzed passes into midfield, and the odd assist from a quick throw.
- Iconic No. 1: Lev Yashin set the gold standard; more recently, Gianluigi Buffon owned the classic keeper archetype for two decades.
- Practical Angle: When a team plays a high line and presses, a keeper’s sweeping is crucial. Look at their defensive actions outside the box and passing completion under pressure before you bet on a low-scoring game.
2: Right Back
Traditionally, a defender who locked down the flank. Today, many teams use their No. 2 as a two-way outlet: overlapping to deliver crosses, underlapping into half-spaces, or even stepping into midfield during possession.
- What They’re Recognised For: 1v1 defending, overlapping runs, driven crosses, diagonal switches, and high stamina.
- Iconic No. 2: Cafu turned the right-back into a runway, perpetual motion, quality delivery, and a constant out ball.
- Practical Angle: In anytime assist or chances created soccer betting markets, factor in whether the right-back overlaps a right winger who cuts inside (that usually boosts crossing volume).
3: Left Back
Mirror image of the No. 2, with a twist: left-backs often face right-footed inverted wingers cutting in to shoot, so their body shape and recovery pace are tested constantly. Many modern No. 3s are playmakers from wide, stepping infield to help circulate possession.
- What They’re Recognised For: Recovery speed, crossing on the move, back-post defending, and underlaps into the box.
- Iconic No. 3: Paolo Maldini mastered the position as both defender and technician.
- Practical Angle: If the opposition’s star attacker is a right-footed left-winger who loves to cut inside, a disciplined No. 3 who shows him wide can swing shots-on-target props.
4: Centre Back (Right-Sided)
The No. 4 typically anchors the right side of central defence. The modern brief: win duels, step in to intercept before danger develops, and break lines with passes into midfield or the striker’s feet. They’re also a primary set-piece enforcer, marshalling the line and attacking aerial deliveries at both ends.
- What They’re Recognised For: Aerial dominance, timing of tackles, leadership, and line management (squeezing space between units).
- Iconic No. 4: Sergio Ramos wore it with menace and elegance, front-foot defending plus big-game goals.
- Practical Angle: If the No. 4 is comfortable on the ball, teams can play through pressure; if not, expect more long balls and second-ball battles.
5: Centre Back / Sweeper
Historically, the "libero" or sweeper sat behind the line to read danger and start moves. Today, the No. 5 is often the left-sided centre-back: strong in the air, confident carrying out, and comfortable defending wide channels when the left-back attacks.
- What They’re Recognised For: Anticipation, covering space, progressive passing or carries, and set-piece threat.
- Iconic No. 5: Franz Beckenbauer defined the sweeper, roaming out to create plus-ones in midfield.
- Practical Angle: Against teams who counter quickly, the No. 5’s recovery speed and angles can decide whether you see an end-to-end game or a controlled one.
6: Defensive Midfielder
In coaching shorthand, the “6” screens the defence. They protect the centre-backs, kill counters, and keep the ball moving. Some are destroyers who win it and give it; others are deep playmakers who dictate tempo from in front of the back line.
- What They’re Recognised For: Tackles and interceptions, press resistance, body orientation to play forward, and constant availability for passes.
- Iconic No. 6: Fernando Redondo is a classic example of the elegant deep-lying playmaker wearing six for Real Madrid. Xavi wore six in La Liga at Barcelona while orchestrating higher up the pitch, proving the 6 can be a metronome, not just a shield.
- Practical Angle: If the 6 is missing, transitional chances usually spike. That can tilt you toward over goals or shots markets.
7: Right Winger / Forward
The classic chalk-on-boots winger has evolved into a scorer-creator hybrid. The No. 7 hugs the touchline to stretch the pitch, but also attacks the far post and arrives inside the box for cut-backs. Watch for those inside-out runs beyond the 9 and quick switches that tee up their trademark whipped finish.
- What They’re Recognised For: Pace, 1v1 dribbles, whipped crosses, late runs, and curling finishes.
- Iconic No. 7: Cristiano Ronaldo redefined the 7 as a prolific wide forward; George Best gave it swagger and unpredictability.
- Practical Angle: If the opposition left-back is an aggressive overlapper, a savvy No. 7 can exploit the space behind for shots on target or goals markets.
8: Central Midfielder (Box-To-Box)
Your 8 connects everything, helping the 6 in build-up, arriving in the box late, and recycling possession after attacks. They’re the rhythm section and the surprise soloist. Their knack for third-man runs and rapid ball recoveries often flips a loose ball into a scoring chance within seconds.
- What They’re Recognised For: Engine, third-man runs, through-balls, and pressing triggers.
- Iconic No. 8: Steven Gerrard embodied the two-way 8; long-range goals, driving runs, and recovery tackles. Andrés Iniesta also wore the 8 for Barcelona, ghosting into pockets to decide big games.
- Practical Angle: In corners and territory-based markets, a dynamic 8 who wins second balls can keep a team hemmed in and piling on pressure.
9: Centre Forward
The reference point up top. Traditional No. 9s pin centre-backs, attack crosses, and finish from high-value zones. Modern 9s might drop off ("false 9") to link play and free runners from wide. Elite 9s live on the defender’s blind side, darting near-post or peeling back-post to carve that half-yard for a first-time finish.
- What They’re Recognised For: Movement across the line, first-time finishing, and occupying both centre-backs.
- Iconic No. 9: Ronaldo Nazário, known by older fans as THE Ronaldo, remains the benchmark for explosiveness and clinical finishing.
- Practical Angle: For anytime scorer props, look at the 9’s expected goals per 90 and how many touches he gets in the box against this specific opponent style (low block vs high line matters).
10: Attacking Midfielder / Playmaker
The creative conductor between the lines. The 10 finds pockets, receives on the half-turn, and either slips runners in or shoots from the D. Some 10s drift wide to overload; others become second strikers. In the press, the 10 often jumps passing lanes into midfield, turning a single steal into an immediate shot.
- What They’re Recognised For: Vision, disguise on passes, shot selection, and timing.
- Iconic No. 10: Diego Maradona, Pelé, Lionel Messi; the archetype is magic in tight spaces and ruthlessness near the goal.
- Practical Angle: When a team faces a deep block, the 10’s creativity often decides the game. That’s a nudge toward assist markets and shot assists if available.
11: Left Winger / Forward
The role of the left-sided winger has changed over the years; today, many 11s are inverted forwards who cut in to shoot on their stronger right foot or attack the back post for tap-ins.
However, go back a decade or two, and they were more of a creator, crossing balls into a target man who could head home, or passing balls through the defensive line for their striker to run onto.
- What They’re Recognised For: Acceleration, diagonal dribbles, back-post runs, and bending finishes toward the far corner.
- Iconic No. 11: Ryan Giggs was the classic touchline 11, and Neymar wore 11 at Barcelona while playing that inside-forward role.
- Practical Angle: If the opposing right-back tucks inside to invert, an aggressive 11 can isolate the right centre-back, watch for fouls drawn and shooting lanes opening up.
Considerations For The Modern Day
Shirt numbers aren’t universal anymore. Systems and roles blur, and players often stick with personal numbers for branding, sentiment, or pure superstition.
At club level, academy promotions sometimes keep high training numbers, while tournaments may assign tighter ranges, so digits tell you less than the player’s job.
A "6" might build like an 8, a full-back might drift inside like a midfielder, and a "9" can behave like a creator.
When you’re scanning lineups (or pricing up player markets), read the heat maps and touch zones, not just the shirt.
Here are a few more fast truths to keep your understanding of numbers in football current.
The Map Isn’t The Territory
A "6" in coaching jargon means the holding midfielder, but clubs and countries don’t always give that player the No. 6 shirt. Xavi wore 6 for Barcelona, yet played as a higher-tempo metronome; Sergio Busquets did the anchoring job wearing 5.
Use the number as a clue; confirm the player’s actual role by where they receive the ball and their passing map.
Also check defensive actions and starting positions out of possession, if they screen the centre-backs and make most recoveries in front of the box, that’s your 6, whatever the shirt says.
Hybrids Are Everywhere
Full-backs invert into midfield, centre-backs step into the 6 space in possession, 8s become second strikers, and the 9 can be "false", dropping off to drag centre-backs out before releasing wide runners. If you’re weighing Shots or Assists props, track how often a team’s "9" actually receives to feet between the lines rather than on the last shoulder.
These rotations create build-up formations like 3-2-5 or 2-3-5 and shift chance creation zones (crosses vs cut-backs), which directly affect corners, key-passes, and shots-in-the-box markets.
Personal Numbers Stick
Some players can have their own preferences for numbers on their backs. Mario Balotelli famously chose 45 because 4 + 5 = 9, the number he wanted as a striker, but that wasn't available when he came up through the youth ranks.
Then you have the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who wore 66 throughout his Liverpool career (a youth-system allocation he kept), albeit a number he lost after his 2025 transfer to Real Madrid, where he was unveiled with No. 12.
These are just a couple of neat examples of how traditional conventions change what a player wears, even when their role doesn’t.
Numbers Being Retired For Icons
On special occasions, to recognise club legends or players who may have passed away, clubs will retire a number. Meaning that going forward, certain digits won't be available to future players who join the club. This means we could see fewer players wearing traditional numbers going forward, and some players may miss out on having personal numbers depending on whether a club they join has already retired it.
Some notable retirements include West Ham's No. 6, which was retired in memory of World Cup winner Bobby Moore; Napoli retired the fabled No. 10 for Diego Maradona; and in Canada, the Vancouver Whitecaps have retired No. 5 in honour of MLS club legend Bob Lenarduzzi.