In this post, I will be ranking the best and most famous players who wear the number 7 jersey in soccer history. These players are widely regarded as the very best of their generations, though some are still active, while others have hung up their boots.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Players With Most Red Cards In Football History
Who Are The Top 10 Best Number 7s In Football History?
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- David Beckham
- George Best
- Luis Figo
- Andriy Shevchenko
- Raul
- Kevin Keegan
- Mané Garrincha
- Eric Cantona
- Kenny Daglish
Let’s learn about them.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most famous footballers to ever wear the number 7 jersey. Born in Madeira, Portugal, he began his career at Sporting CP before joining Manchester United in 2003.
He became a global star, winning three Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy with the club. In 2009, he moved to Real Madrid, where he broke records and helped the team win four Champions League titles.
Later, he played for Juventus, returned to Manchester United, and currently plays for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Ronaldo has scored over 900 goals and holds records in the Champions League and European Championship.
For Portugal, he has played more than 200 matches, won the Euro 2016 tournament, and the UEFA Nations League. Known as CR7, he is admired for his dedication, physical fitness, and goal-scoring ability. He is also one of the most followed athletes in the world on social media.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Best Defenders In MLS History
2. David Beckham
Although his career saw him wear various jerseys, he made history wearing Manchester United’s No. 7 from 1995 to 2002, and he is one of England’s most famous players to wear the number 7.
Beckham’s connection to the iconic No. 7 jersey was more than just a uniform choice. He vividly recalled shedding tears upon discovering that he would wear the big No. 7 for the team.
Also, sharing the same jersey number as the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton was a matter of deep familial satisfaction. Beckham was recognized for his bending free-kicks, earning acclaim as a free-kick specialist.
Additionally, pundits laud him as one of the greatest wide midfielders in football history. Unlike his teammate Ryan Giggs, who focused on direct dribbles, Beckham used his movement and passing to best opponents.
His partnership with full-back Gary Neville became a fortress, with their coordination on the right flank. While he thrived on the right flank, he also impressed as a central midfielder.
3. George Best
When you look at Manchester United’s football history, you will learn how sensational George Best was, he is a legend who wore the No. 7 jersey.
Aside from spending most of his career with Manchester United, he was a wizard on the field, especially when it came to dribbling and scoring goals.
George Best is a super-skilled winger who could do amazing things with the ball. He was so good that fans consider him one of the best players ever.
In 1968, he even won European Footballer of the Year, and he was close to being named one of the top players of the century by FIFA.
George Best had a bag of tricks that made him one of the greatest. He was super fast, and he could use both his feet equally well with a way of moving and trucking defenders.
4. Luís Figo
Luís Figo was a fantastic former Portugal and Real Madrid player. Figo’s career saw him play for Sporting CP, Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Inter Milan.
He won the Ballon d’Or in 2000, plus the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2001. Figo was good at passing the ball; he recorded 106 assists during his playing career. That’s the second-most assists in La Liga history.
He won many, many trophies throughout his career, like the Portuguese Cup, La Liga titles, Spanish Cups, and UEFA Champions League. He also registered 32 goals for his country, Portugal.
5. Andriy Shevchenko
Andriy Shevchenko is one of the greatest strikers in football and a national hero in Ukraine.
He started his career at Dynamo Kyiv and won five league titles. Then, he joined AC Milan and became one of Europe’s top forwards, scoring 175 goals for the club and winning the Serie A title in 2004.
He also helped Milan win the Champions League in 2003.
Shevchenko wore the number 7 jersey and played for Chelsea, winning two domestic trophies. He also reached three Champions League finals during his career.
He scored 48 goals and led the Ukraine National team to the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals.
After retiring, he became the national team coach and took them to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
In 2024, he was elected President of the Ukrainian Football Association.
6. Raúl González Blanco
Aside from being one of the greatest players of his generation, Raúl is one player who could turn every opportunity into a goal.
Raúl spent most of his career at Real Madrid, starting from the Real Madrid C to the senior team, as he made 550 appearances for the senior team, recording 228 goals, while wearing the number 7 jersey.
With 228 goals, he’s one of the top goal-scorers in La Liga history. Raúl is also the Spanish player with the most goals in European leagues, with 256 goals in total.
Plus, he’s third on the list of players with the most appearances in La Liga, having played 550 matches. And he’s the fifth-highest goal scorer in the history of the UEFA Champions League competition, scoring 71 goals. Even though he didn’t win any major titles with Spain, he was one of their best
7. Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan wore the iconic number 7 jersey for some of the most famous teams in the world. He started with Liverpool, and he wore the number 7 jersey from 1972 to 1977.
Also wore the same number for Newcastle United, Hamburger SV, and Southampton FC. Arguably, he is one of the best players ever. He could dribble with the ball like it was glued to his feet with incredible skill in finishing the ball with accuracy, and he was also good in the air.
After his time in Germany, Keegan played for Southampton and his old team, Newcastle United, before retiring from playing.
He scored a total of 204 goals in 592 matches for his club teams and added 21 goals in 63 games for the English national team. In 1992, he returned to the football scene as a manager for Newcastle United. He also managed Fulham and Manchester City.
At all three clubs, he worked his magic and led them to promotions as champions in his very first season as a manager. Even got the chance to manage the England national team from 1999 to 2000.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Best Penalty Takers In The World
8. Garrincha
In the entire history of football, no one spread more happiness than Garrincha. When he stepped on the pitch, it transformed the ball into a playful animal. I used to think he had a special relationship with the ball.
He’d jump over the ball, and it would dance around him, playing hide-and-seek, teasing him, and making him chase after it. In the process, his opponents would end up running into each other, completely baffled by his moves.
Garrincha was a phenomenon, a magician whose connection with the ball seemed magical. Some even believed that he was more dangerous on the field than Pelé. That’s saying a lot, considering how amazing Pelé was.
9. Eric Cantona
In the 1990s, Manchester United was ruling English football, and Eric Cantona was one of the players behind the team’s success.
In 2003, Inside United magazine voted him as Manchester United’s greatest-ever. He was so exceptional that he became one of the very first inductees into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.
Also regarded as one of the greatest in the Premier League’s history. Cantona was a force to be reckoned with on the field. He was big, strong, hard-working, and never backed down from a challenge.
Despite his physique, he moved with elegance, due to his long torso that gave him a lower mass center. This made him stand out among players of his stature.
He had exceptional ball control, a killer first touch, and the ability to score from incredible strikes and volleys. Often played a creative role, bridging the gap between the midfield and the forwards. That aside, he could also drop deep into the midfield to retrieve the ball and create magic.
READ ALSO: Top 10 Defensive Midfielders In Football History
10. Kenny Dalglish
Kenny Dalglish is one of the greatest players to wear the number 7 jersey. He was born in Scotland and began playing professionally for Celtic, where he enjoyed great success before signing with Liverpool in 1977.
At Liverpool, Dalglish became a club legend, winning six league titles, three European Cups, and many other trophies. Fans still call him “King Kenny” for his impact on the club.
He played over 500 games for Liverpool and earned 102 caps for Scotland, scoring 30 goals, a national record he shares with Denis Law. Dalglish also played in three World Cups.
In 1985, he became player-manager of Liverpool, leading the club to more success. Later, he managed Blackburn Rovers and helped them win the Premier League in 1995.
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.