Football’s best: The top number 7s in the Beautiful Game
Football is filled with iconic players, especially those who wear the number 7. It has become a number synonymous with star players, which made fans expect that whoever wears the number will transcend stardom.
Certain players are known to stand out in the Beautiful Game—across various teams and leagues in Europe. One thing most of these players have in common is their jersey number as they play exceptionally well on the field—the #7.
What does the #7 represent in football?
The #7 shirt is traditionally reserved for wingers and second strikers, as they are the players who are tasked with creating goals and hyping fans. You should expect these players to be the stars of the show, as they want to showcase their skill at beating their defenders while also creating a goal-scoring opportunity through passes or shots.
Any time a player is wearing the #7, there are always high expectations for them. That is a tremendous amount of pressure to play under, but that is also the weight of wearing the #7 on your shirt.
As you can see from history with stars like David Beckham and George Best, the #7 players always have an impact in the final third. Alongside the number are the expectations, and as football evolves, the #7 continues to have a special aura around it.
The current best players in the world to wear #7
For football fans, the first focus in the match always goes to #7. They are typically the top players who can carry their team to victory with their skills as a winger or an attacking player.
Here are some of those players:
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
Arsenal’s main man, Bukayo Saka has been superb ever since his time for the Gunners. He has become the face of the club’s resurgence and is the primary reason they have been constantly fighting for a spot at the top of the Premier League.
He is a workhorse winger, but he has a creative flair for generating goal-scoring opportunities. Saka is one of the most intelligent wingers out there, thanks to his pace and power. That kind of player is what makes Arsenal such a strong team since giving the ball to Saka ensures they have a chance to win the game.
Bukayo’s vision and playmaking ability are what sets him apart from other wingers as he has a tremendous skill to pull off some of his pinpoint crosses from the wing or even from the corner flag. Don’t count out his defending as well since he is an experienced full-back from his early Arsenal days.
Vinícius Jr. (Real Madrid)
Playing for Real Madrid is always a high-pressure situation, so being the star of the show takes a lot of skill. That is why Vini Jr. has become one of the best players in the world as he knows how to step up to the plate.
This is difficult to do since Vini is one of the flashiest players you will see in world football, as he has the ability to dribble through defenders and beat them with his creative moves. However, he knows how to be functional with his manoeuvres, as seen with his flair.
He is most effective in counter-attacks, as he has the pace to outspeed his defender. Vini was criticised early in his career, but that is history now since he has become a clinical finisher for Real Madrid, which has turned the tides on many Asian handicap markets. The Brazilian has refined his game and is now one of the world’s best players at the biggest club.
Luis Diaz (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, known as Lucho, has become a fan favourite because of his tireless energy. As he has taken the Reds’ #7 shirt, he has brought a unique blend of South American flair and the clinical ability of European forwards.
Diaz is one of the most direct wingers you can see, as he has a knack for finding the net with his goal-scoring. He is also terrifying to go against for a full-back as he has the creativity with his dribbles, but he also has a finishing ability to pull off the most impossible shots.
Lucho is also a fantastic defender when his name is called upon, as he plays in a high-tempo system. He represents a modern-day #7 as he has everything in his skill set as an all-around player.
Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid)
One of the most popular #7s in modern history, Griezmann is known for being one of the most versatile forwards. He can play any role within the front three or even front four, as he can be an attacking midfielder.
The Frenchman is one of the smartest players you can encounter in the football scene, as he has a knack for delivering under pressure. He is superb with his tremendous consistency for Atlético Madrid and France.
Antoine’s biggest trait is his passing and vision, as he can create a scoring chance out of nothing. That kind of skill and poise under pressure is what makes him worthy of being called one of the best #7s in the 21st century.
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Al-Nassr FC)
Quite possibly the greatest #7 to play the game, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be one of the standout players in his late 30s. He has become synonymous with the number, as seen with his branding of CR7.
Ronaldo has defined what it means to wear this #7 shirt, as he has unmatched physical prowess, technical skill, and the best goalscoring ability out of any player. He is the sport’s greatest-ever goalscorer with 900+ goals and counting.
Future generations will see the #7 and think of Cristiano. He is influential in the sport, as he has cemented himself as the best player to don the shirt. It will take some time for him to be usurped, considering he is the consensus second-best player to ever play football behind Lionel Messi.
What will make #7 iconic in the future of the game?
Expect the #7 to remain iconic with time as it continues to be associated with the best players in the world. Players who stand out usually get linked to certain numbers, but when you have a #7 or #10, the pressure is there for you to deliver.
With players like Saka and Vini, youngsters have a lot to look up to. Even though Kylian Mbappé let go of the #7 recently, he is still an iconic player to don it, as he will continue to influence people with that number.
Younger players are getting inspired every day by the wingers and players who have donned the #7. With more players getting it every season, the number will continue to evolve and grow in popularity.
The rising stars who wear the #7
Aside from the top stars wearing the #7, some players deserve some attention, considering they are rising players as well. Here are some top #7s with the most potential to become superstars in the future:
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Pedro Neto (Chelsea) - Pedro is one of the most complete wingers in the world right now. He has the creative flair, but also the physical traits that make him such a threat on either wing of the pitch.
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Kevin Schade (Brentford) - Schade is not as popular as other players, but he has become one of the most promising players at Brentford, even if he is playing behind Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa at times.
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Jeremy Doku (Manchester City) - While he does not wear #7 for his club, he does for Belgium’s national team. He is an impressive dribbler and has earned his spot as one of the best wingers with his role as a creative outlet on the left wing.
How high-quality #7 players can affect your football bets
The #7 players are usually the names featured on top goalscorer markets for their respective leagues or tournaments. These players are also some of the best performers of the squad so their presence in a matchup can highly affect their team’s win rate and their betting odds.
When betting on head-to-head football games at Sportsbet.io, check if both or either teams’ #7 are playing or not. If the #7s are playing, look into their current status and recent performance.
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