Football is a game that has undergone constant evolution and change, both in the game’s rules as well as its tactics. From the rigid formations of early 20th-century football to the fluid tactical systems of today, the sport has seen many strategic shifts. Among the casualties of modern football’s tactical revolution has been the number 10 position — the playmaker, the artist, the magician who orchestrates attacks from central areas in a free role. Once the beating heart of creativity in any top team and the most important player in the team, the role has been redefined, diminished, or even eliminated altogether in today’s game.
The Number 10 Position: Still Relevant?
The Golden Age of the Number 10
Historically, the number 10 was synonymous with footballing genius. Players like Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, and Johan Cruyff embodied the essence of the role. Positioned just behind the striker, the number 10 was the creative heartbeat of the team, tasked with threading through-balls, orchestrating attacks, and delivering moments of magic. In an era of man-marking and less compact defensive systems, these players thrived, exploiting space and dictating the tempo of games operating in the half space between the opponents’ defence and midfeld area.
Embed from Getty Images
The golden age of the number 10 extended well into the late 20th century and early 2000s. Players like Ronaldinho, Francesco Totti, and Juan Román Riquelme carried the torch, dazzling fans with their artistry and vision. Teams were often built around these players, who were given the freedom to roam and express themselves without the burden of excessive defensive responsibilities. Later on, and perhaps the last real number tens, players like James Rodriguez and Mesut Ozil burst onto the scene and took over.
As time went by and the game kept progressing, they were no longer favored by their coaches and were left out of the team. This was due to the increase in physicality and speed in the game which didn’t suit their best qualities: technique and time on the ball, meaning they could be better suited and used in games against weaker opponents in low defensive blocks. This meant that their teams would have more possession of the ball and wouldn’t need to high press or need to win the ball back in midfield areas where they would have been exposed.
The Tactical Shift: Pressing and Compactness
The decline of the number 10 can be linked to tactical evolutions in the modern game over the years. The rise of pressing systems and compact defensive structures has dramatically reduced the space in which playmakers can operate and be effective. Modern teams emphasize collective effort, usually pressing high up the pitch and maintaining defensive compactness. In such systems, a player who operates solely in an advanced central role, without contributing defensively to the team, is seen as a liability.
Take, for example, the rise of gegenpressing under Jürgen Klopp firstly with Dortmund and then with Liverpool. In Klopp’s system, every player is expected to contribute to winning the ball back as quickly as possible. Traditional number 10s, who often lack the athleticism and defensive work rate required for such systems, struggle to find a place. For example, Liverpool’s midfield trio that won the Champions League in 2019 was comprised by Gini Wijnaldum, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson; players that could contribute to a pressing system, win the ball back and supply it to the attacking minded front three. Not overly great on the ball but formidable “engine” players that could outwork any team in terms of athleticism.
Embed from Getty Images
Similarly, Pep Guardiola’s positional play demands midfielders who can occupy multiple roles, contribute defensively, and adapt to the fluid movements of the team. Players like Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva who are not your typical number 10s and can contribute in many different ways, depending on the opponent, able to adjust according to different gameplans. The static playmaker of old simply doesn’t fit into these frameworks.
The Rise of Hybrid Roles
As the traditional number 10 has faded, new hybrid roles have emerged. Players who might once have been deployed as playmakers are now used in deeper or wider positions, where they can contribute more defensively and exploit different spaces. A creative player used in positions wider who can roam in central attacking areas and exploit space means there is an extra midfield spot for a player who can be valuable in pressing and defensive transition play phases. Wide playmakers, like Neymar and Mohamed Salah, also embody the shift. Operating from the flanks, they create and score goals without the need of a classic number 10 in the team’s midfield three.
The “false 9” role, popularized by Guardiola’s Barcelona with Lionel Messi, is a prime example. Instead of operating purely as a central attacking midfielder, Messi dropped deeper from the striker’s position to influence play, effectively blending the responsibilities of a number 10 and a forward. Cesc Fabregas was also successfully used as a false nine by Guardiola for some period as well as Ikay Gundogan later on in title winning campaigns with Man City.
Similarly, the rise of “number 8” midfielders, such as Kevin De Bruyne, Luka Modrić and Tony Kroos, showcases how creative players are now expected to operate in box-to-box roles. These players contribute defensively while still providing attacking thrust, making them more versatile and valuable in modern systems.
Embed from Getty Images
The Exception of the Rule
While the traditional number 10 has largely disappeared, there are exceptions to the rule. Lionel Messi, for much of his career, has been a modern incarnation of the role, albeit with adaptations to fit different systems. At a younger age Messi was deployed on the right flank where he had freedom to cut in on his left foot and have space either for a shot or an inswing cross or assist.
At the time, with the help of the attacking minded right back Dani Alves who often took Messi position as a right winger, and with a high confidence in the team’s possesion game capabilities, Messi would often occupy more central positions and act as a number 10 in the half space between the opponents’ defensive and midfield lines.
The Future of Creativity in Football
The death of the traditional number 10 does not mean the death of creativity in football. Instead, creativity has been redistributed across the pitch. Full-backs like Trent Alexander-Arnold now play a significant role in playmaking, delivering precise crosses and initiating attacks from the centre of the pitch, acting as midfielders when their team has possession of the ball. Deep-lying midfielders, such as Rodri who has just won the Ballon d’Or award, orchestrate play from positions traditionally associated with defensive duties.
In many ways, the decentralization of creativity has made football more dynamic. Teams no longer rely on a single player to unlock defenses; instead, every position contributes to attacking play and requires players who are comfortable with the ball and who can contribute to the team’s attacking style of play. This shift has also increased the pace and intensity of the game, making it more physically demanding for the players, sometimes in detriment to their physical health.
Conclusion
The number 10 position, as we once knew it, is largely a relic of the past. Modern football’s emphasis on pressing, versatility, and collective effort has rendered the traditional playmaker obsolete. Yet, the spirit of the number 10 lives on in new forms. Creative players now adapt to hybrid roles, influencing games from deeper or wider positions, while meeting the demands of modern tactical systems. While we may mourn the loss of the pure playmaker like Zinedine Zidane, Rui Costa or Juan Román Riquelme, we can celebrate the evolution of creativity in football and the endless possibilities it brings.