Just like the famous number 1 Jersey in football is widely attributed to goalkeepers, the number 10 is widely attributed to attacking players such as the attacking midfielder or the winger, and the football Jersey number 22 has been widely attributed to be used by squad players.
These are players that are not part of the first team but can be occasionally brought in to help the team.
Although not widely sought after by new players. The number 22 is one of the wanted jersey numbers by players who can not get a number within 1-11.
Although mostly used by attacking players as well, the Jersey number 22 has managed to produce some iconic football players both on the club side as well as on the national team side.
In this article, we will be showing you famous soccer players who have won the number 22 on their jerseys. So, without further ado, let us proceed –
- Di Maria
- Raphinha
- Hakim Ziyech
- Jude Bellingham
- Antonio Rudiger
- Theo Hernandez
- Ter Stegen
- Lautaro Martinez
- Joao Cancelo
- Pablo Mari
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1. Di Maria – Attacker – Juventus
First on our list of the top ten most famous players to wear the number 22 Jersey is Di Maria.
Ángel Fabián Di María was born on the 14th of February, in the year 1988 in Rosario, Lionel Messi’s hometown. Angel Fabián Di Maria became popular when he signed for Portuguese side Benfica in 2007 where he helped the club win their first league title in five years.
He is widely known for pace, trickery, and agility. Di Maria is currently regarded as one of the best attacking players in the world, and one of the best Argentine players.
He was a key player in Argentina’s World Cup triumph in 2022, scoring the first goal for Argentina against France, and disturbing the French team with his pace and tricks on the left side before being taken off. He currently plays for an Italian club, Juventus where he wears the number 22 jersey.
2. Raphinha – Attacker – FC Barcelona
Raphael Dias Belloli is a Brazilian international born on the 14th of December, 1996. He played for the English premier league side, Leeds United where he gained recognition amongst several top clubs with Chelsea, Arsenal, and a host of other clubs interested in getting his signature.
He however later signed for FC Barcelona in the 2022 summer transfer and since then, the player has grown to become one of the best players under FC Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez.
Raphael Dias Belloli currently wears the number 22 Jersey and seems to be following in the path of several Barcelona icons who have won the number 22 Jersey such as Abidal and a lot of others.
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3. Hakim Ziyech – Attacker – Chelsea
Third, on our list of famous soccer players who wear the number 22 jersey is Hakim Ziyech.
Also known as the “The Wizard” by fans, Hakim Ziyech is a Moroccan international who currently plays for the English Premier League side, Chelsea where he wears the iconic number 22 jersey.
He was born on the 19th of March in the year 1993 in Dronten, Netherlands, and played for the Netherland International Under 20 and Under 21 between 2012 and 2014 before switching to Morocco for his international senior career.
The Moroccan international is widely known for his dribbling skills, technique, ability to make long passes, ability to deliver free kicks, and great finishing.
4. Jude Bellingham – Midfielder – Borussia Dortmund
Jude Victor William Bellingham is an England international and a midfielder at German side Borussia Dortmund where he wears the famous number 22 jersey.
The player is widely considered to be one the brightest talents in football right now. And as things stand, the player is leaving up to that expectation.
Born on the 29th of June, 2003, Jude Victor William Bellingham has been linked with a move to several football clubs, including the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, and a host of other clubs.
After his move from Championship side Birmingham City, the club decided to retire the number 22 Jersey. The number he wore at the club and currently wears at German side Borussia Dortmund.
5. Antonio Rudiger – Defender – Real Madrid
Fifth on our list of the top ten famous soccer players who wear the number 22 Jersey is Real Madrid player, Antonio Rudiger.
Born on the 3rd of March, 1993. Antonio Rudiger is a German international and Sierra Leonean who currently plays as a center-back for La Liga club Real Madrid and also the German national team.
He was signed by Real Madrid in the 2022 summer transfer window on a free transfer from Chelsea and his contract with the Spanish side runs till 2026.
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He follows in the likes of Di Maria who played for Real Madrid and in the English premier league. The player had the option of choosing either the number 12 or the number 22 and he decided to go for the 22.
6. Theo Hernandez – Defender – France National Team
Théo Bernard François Hernandez is a French football player born on 6th October 1997. He was born in Marseille of France to Jean-François, a former Atletico Madrid star.
He currently plays for the Italian side, AC Milan as a left-side fullback and sometimes as a wingback. His fine form with the Italian outfit earned him a call-up to the French national team in 2021 and played a key role in their 2022 World cup campaign, where France emerged as runners-up.
For France, he plays with the number 22 Jersey number and is known for his speed, goalscoring ability as a fullback, and great runs.
7. Ter Stegen – Goalkeeper – Germany National Team
FC Barcelona star, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was born on the 30th of April in the year 1992. He has played a key role in Barcelona’s success in recent years since the club signed him. This includes the new Barcelona manager, Xavi Hernandez La Liga title charge.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been playing for the German national team since 2012. Albeit, he has spent most of his time deputizing for Bayern Munich’s great goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer who is also dubbed “The Wall”.
Nevertheless, there is no doubt about Ter Stegen’s goalkeeping skills including his ball-playing ability, reflexes, and a lot of others.
8. Lautaro Martinez – Attacker – Argentina National Team
Born in Bahía Blanca, Argentina, Lautaro Javier Martínez is an Argentine professional footballer and Inter Milan star.
He currently plays as a striker for the Argentina national team and Inter Milan, scoring several goals to help propel his team to the world cup and Scudetto glory respectively.
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Lautauro Javier Martinez currently wears the number 22 Jersey at the Argentina national team and in a total of 46+ appearances, he has scored a total of 21+ goals for his country.
9. Joao Cancelo – Defender – Bayern Munich
João Pedro Cavaco Cancelo, popularly known as João Cancelo, was born on the 27th of May 1994. He is a Portuguese international and a Manchester City player currently on loan at German side Bayern Munich, with an option to buy at $70 million.
He is widely regarded as one of the best wing-backs and fullbacks in the world, playing a key role in Pep Guardiola’s success at Manchester City.
João Cancelo is widely known for being a creative, strong, skillful, and versatile player. Although he is naturally a right full-back or wingback, he also plays on the left side effectively, a position he played most at Manchester City.
10. Pablo Mari – Defender – Arsenal
Last on our list of famous football players that wear the number 22 Jersey is Arsenal football star, Pablo Mari.
Signed by Arsenal in 2020 from Flamengo, Pablo Mari is one of the most famous players that have won the number 22 jersey.
He is a Spanish professional footballer, born on 31 August 1993. And although the player is currently playing for Italian club Monza on loan, he has a contract with Arsenal which is set to expire in 2024.
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And as things stand, there is no information as to whether the player will stay at the club, or Monza will have to sign him permanently.
Final Words
The jersey number 22 in soccer is one of the interesting jersey numbers in the game and has been worn by some top players over the years.
Therefore, there is a need for fans of the round leather game to know the best players who are wearing the jersey number in recent times. Ten of them have been listed in this article and we encourage you to leverage this article in your soccer endeavors.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.