In soccer, the number 18 jersey is known for having top talent. Paul Scholes, a well-respected English midfielder, wore this jersey during his time at Manchester United, showing off some incredible passing skills.
Then there’s Jordi Alba, the Spanish left-back, who’s been killing it wearing the number 18 with the Inter Miami CF. He’s consistently shown amazing defensive and offensive moves. These soccer stars simply represent the best, doing their thing on the field with that special number 18.
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Players That Wear The Number 18 Jersey
- Paul Scholes
- Jordi Alba
- Ashley Young
- Christopher Nkunku
- Aurelien Tchouameni
- Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Nicolo Barella
- Dayot Upamecano
- Ruben Neves
- Takehiro Tomiyasu
1. Paul Scholes (Manchester United)
Paul Scholes is more than just a name in the world of soccer, he is one of the most famous players to wear the number 18 jersey.
This English football coach, pundit, and former player left a memorable impact during his entire playing career with Manchester United.
Spending two fruitful decades with the club, Scholes scored over 150 goals in 700 appearances from 1993 to 2013. His trophy cabinet boasts 25 accolades, including 11 Premier League titles.
Scholes emerged from the Manchester United academy, part of the famed “Fergie’s Fledglings.” Debuting in the 1994–95 season, he went on to make 718 appearances, the third-highest in the club’s history.
After a brief retirement in 2011, he returned in 2012, concluding his playing career in 2013. Scholes also wore the England national team jersey from 1997 to 2004, earning 66 caps and participating in FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships.
His retirement from international football in 2004 was attributed to prioritizing family and his club career. Post-retirement, Scholes delved into coaching, managing Oldham Athletic briefly in 2019 and having an interim role at Salford City in 2020. Today, beyond the pitch, he continues to contribute to football as a respected coach and pundit.
2. Jordi Alba (Spanish National Football Team, Barcelona, Inter Miami CF)
Jordi Alba Ramos is currently enjoying his time In Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF, wearing the number 18 jersey. He’s widely regarded as one of the best left-backs of his era.
Alba’s journey began in Barcelona, and his time there saw him clinch an impressive sixteen major honors, including La Liga titles, Copas del Rey, and a UEFA Champions League trophy.
He was outstanding on the international stage too, with 23 caps and a goal at the youth level while he made his senior debut for Spain in 2011.
Alba was a key figure in the UEFA Euro 2012-winning squad, and he also represented Spain in numerous FIFA World Cups and European Championships.
He even captained the team to victory in the 2022–23 UEFA Nations League. In a surprising move in 2023, Alba announced his retirement from international football, concluding a remarkable chapter in his career.
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3. Ashley Young (Aston Villa, Manchester United, Everton)
Ashley Young is a professional football player with the number 18 jersey, and he’s been wearing this number from his time at Manchester United during the 2011/2012 season.
In January 2007, Young sealed a move to Aston Villa for £8 million, where he won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2009.
His talents then led to a £17 million move to Manchester United in June 2011. At United, he won five trophies, including the Premier League in 2013, the FA Cup in 2016, and the Europa League in 2017.
Young’s leadership qualities were acknowledged when he was appointed club captain in 2019. However, the English winger embraced a new chapter with Inter Milan in 2020, securing the Serie A title.
This made the third Englishman to achieve this feat. Returning to his roots in 2021, Young captained Aston Villa to a commendable 7th-placed finish in his second season, before heading to Everton Everton in 2023.
4. Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig, Chelsea)
Christopher Nkunku has been Incredible throughout his journey from RB Leipzig and Chelsea while keeping the same jersey number, 18.
Joining RB Leipzig in July 2019 for around €13 million, Nkunku quickly showed his skills. He scored his first goal, debuting in a DFB-Pokal match in a Bundesliga game. In a memorable performance against Schalke 04 in February 2020, Nkunku notched four assists.
However, his time at RB Leipzig reached new heights in the 2021-22 season, marked by a historic hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League and claiming the Bundesliga Player of the Season award in May 2022 after scoring 20 goals and assisting 13 in 34 league games.
The following season, he shared the top-scorer title in the league with 16 goals. In a surprising move, Nkunku joined Premier League giants Chelsea in June 2023 for a reported £52 million.
Despite a setback with a knee injury during pre-season, he made a memorable debut in December, scoring a penalty in an EFL Cup shootout win against Newcastle United.
His Premier League debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers saw him making an impact off the bench with a late goal. Nkunku continued to impress, finding the net again against Liverpool in January 2024.
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5. Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
Aurelien Tchouameni is a professional football player with the number 18 jersey. The rising star made headlines on June 11, 2022, when it was revealed that he would be wearing the white jersey of Real Madrid starting July 1, 2022.
The French midfielder signed a lucrative six-year contract, with a transfer fee of €80 million, potentially soaring to €100 million with added clauses.
His official debut for Real Madrid came on August 10, when he entered as a late substitute in a thrilling 2–0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Super Cup.
Just a month later, on September 30, 2023, Tchouameni scored his inaugural goal for Los Blancos. A powerful header during a 3–0 league triumph against Girona also showed his potential on the field.
Tchouameni’s transition to the Spanish giants has been Impressive. The young talent’s impact was immediate, securing a significant club trophy in his debut and contributing with a memorable goal in La Liga.
6. Trent Alexander-Arnold (England National Football Team)
Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of the best soccer players with the number 18 jersey. His journey began with representing England at various youth levels, displaying his skills at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, and securing England’s qualification for the 2017 UEFA European Under-19 Championship.
Moving up the ranks, Alexander-Arnold made his mark in the senior England camp, debuting in March 2018 and earning a spot in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
He scored his first senior international goal against the United States In a friendly international in November 2018. The young talent also contributed to England’s success in the UEFA Nations League in June 2019.
Despite being named in the squad for UEFA Euro 2020, he faced a setback due to a thigh injury. However, Alexander-Arnold made a return, securing his spot in England’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. During the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, he showed his class again with a remarkable long-range goal against Malta.
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7. Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal F.C.)
Joining the Premier League in 2021, Takehiro Tomiyasu quickly became a notable figure at Arsenal F.C. On August 31, he penned a four-year deal with an optional fifth, with the transfer sum ranging from £15.5 million to £17 million.
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, and technical director Edu hailed him as an “important member of the squad.” Tomiyasu marked his Arsenal debut on September 11, securing a 1–0 victory against Norwich City.
His impact won him the title of Arsenal’s Player of the Month for September 2021. In August 2023, he faced both triumph and controversy, starting in a 1–0 win against Crystal Palace but receiving a controversial red card in the 67th minute.
The Japanese defender also showed his versatility in the 2023–24 EFL Cup, contributing to a clean-sheet victory against Brentford as a center-back.
On October 28, 2023, he netted his first goal for Arsenal in stoppage time during a 5–0 triumph over Sheffield United.
Fans acknowledged his incredible contributions, and they selected him as the team’s month MVP for October, which was his second award since September 2021.
8. Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool F.C.)
Dirk Kuyt is one of the most famous soccer players to wear the number 18 jersey. Joining the club in 2006, Kuyt’s move from Feyenoord was fueled by a desire to play for a “really big club” and Liverpool proved to be just that.
He made his debut against West Ham United in 2006, and Kuyt quickly earned recognition for his unique defensive approach as a striker.
Kuyt has remarkable energy and skill. Notably, Kuyt played an Integral part in Liverpool’s penalty shoot-out victory against Chelsea in the 2006–07 Champions League semi-finals, displaying his clutch abilities.
The following season saw him scoring vital goals, and also contributing to Liverpool’s impressive run in the Champions League.
In the 2008–09 season, Kuyt’s reputation as a “Big Game Player” soared, with important goals in key matches. His 15-goal tally that season marked a personal best for the club as they finished as Premier League runners-up.
The 2009–10 season showed his versatility as injuries pushed him into a central striker role, where he also Impressed. And memorable moments included a hat-trick against Manchester United and a last-minute penalty against Arsenal.
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9. Gareth Barry (Manchester City, Everton, West Bromwich Albion)
Gareth Barry is a record-setter, and he is one of the best players to wear the number 18 jersey. This former professional midfielder boasts 653 Premier League appearances.
Do you know that this record has been unmatched by any other player in the league’s history? Barry’s journey began at Aston Villa, where he spent 12 years, captaining the team and making 441 appearances.
In June 2009, Barry made a £12 million move to Manchester City. There, he won the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League title the following season.
A season on loan forewent his three-year stint with Everton in July 2014. As his contract ended, Barry embraced a new challenge with West Bromwich Albion. On August 27, 2020, he announced his retirement from football.
10. Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur, Toronto FC, Sunderland AFC, AFC Bournemouth)
Defoe moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2004 after West Ham’s relegation in 2003, spending four years with the club before a brief stint at Portsmouth.
In 2009, Defoe returned to Tottenham. He also moved to the Major League Soccer (MLS) with Toronto FC in 2014, then returned to England in 2015 to join Sunderland.
In April 2011, he became the 20th player to score a century of Premier League goals, This also earned him a spot as the ninth-highest goalscorer in Premier League history and the sixth-highest in Tottenham’s history.
He also boasts the most goals scored as a substitute, with 24. Defoe’s journey took him to AFC Bournemouth in 2017 and a loan spell with Scottish side Rangers in 2018, where he contributed to the club winning the 2020–21 league title at the age of 38.
Pataka is a consistent and avid follower of the round leather game. He communicates his passion by editing soccer posts for various soccer platforms.