In football (soccer), the jersey number of many of the best players, particularly attacking midfielders, especially players from South America. Football legend Pelé instilled great prestige in the number in the 1960s and 70s. Other legends to have worn the number are Michel Platini, Zico, Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthäus, Gary Lineker, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, Michael Owen, Juan Román Riquelme, Rui Costa, Francesco Totti, Wayne Rooney, Denis Law, Gheorghe Hagi, Alessandro del Piero, Zvonimir Boban, William Gallas and Michelle Akers (the shirt was also worn by David Beckham during the 1996/97 season). For the 2002 World Cup Argentina requested to have the number 10 'retired' from their squad list and replaced by 24 in honour of Diego Maradona. FIFA rejected this request saying that Argentina could only leave 10 off the squad list if they intended to enter a squad of 22 players rather than the permitted 23. Argentina decided to bring 23 players to Japan & Korea with Ariel Ortega given the coveted 10. 'Number 10' player is most often used as a synonym for the team's playmaker.
In football (soccer), the jersey number of many of the best players, particularly attacking midfielders, especially players from South America. Football legend Pelé instilled great prestige in the number in the 1960s and 70s. Other legends to have worn the number are Michel Platini, Zico, Diego Maradona, Lothar Matthäus, Gary Lineker, Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Dennis Bergkamp, Michael Owen, Juan Román Riquelme, Rui Costa, Francesco Totti, Wayne Rooney, Denis Law, Gheorghe Hagi, Alessandro del Piero, Zvonimir Boban, William Gallas and Michelle Akers (the shirt was also worn by David Beckham during the 1996/97 season). For the 2002 World Cup Argentina requested to have the number 10 'retired' from their squad list and replaced by 24 in honour of Diego Maradona. FIFA rejected this request saying that Argentina could only leave 10 off the squad list if they intended to enter a squad of 22 players rather than the permitted 23. Argentina decided to bring 23 players to Japan & Korea with Ariel Ortega given the coveted 10. 'Number 10' player is most often used as a synonym for the team's playmaker.