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Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Barnaby Lane

The Best No. 10s in Soccer History—Past and Present

Cole Palmer and Diego Maradona are modern and all-time greats respectively. | IMAGO/NurPhoto/Colorsport

Few numbers in football carry the weight and wonder of the No. 10. Worn by maestros and match-winners, it’s a symbol of creativity, flair and game-changing brilliance.

The classic No. 10 doesn’t just play the game—they shape it, bending matches to their will with vision, technique and moments of pure magic. In today’s system-driven era, the role may be evolving, but the mythos remains. The great No. 10s still shine—roaming, creating and reminding us why this number became iconic in the first place.

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