This is still often the case nowadays but, as with all of the other numbers on this list, it has become less common. Moving into defence, number 2 would be the starting defender on the right-hand side of defence, particularly in a defensive line of four. Former Netherlands midfielder Edgar Davids gave himself the number 1 jersey when he was player-manager of English lower league club Barnet, while Argentina adopted a policy of assigning shirt numbers alphabetically in the 1978, 19 World Cups, which meant midfielders Beto Alonso and Osvaldo Ardiles and forward Sergio Almirón wore it in those tournaments respectively.įull screen Germany number 1 Manuel Neuer will be hoping to win a second World Cup in Qatar Getty Images Number 2 As you might expect, there have been a few exceptions. There’s not too much to say here, as number 1 has always been traditionally worn by a goalkeeper and still is. What’s going on there? And who gave Gavi Spain’s number 9 jersey? Wait a moment, he’s not a centre-forward.įor those of us of a certain vintage, the numbers from 1 to 11 are associated with certain positions, which stems from the pre-1990s when squad numbers – and names on the back of the shirt – largely didn’t exist. Marcos Acuña of Argentina, also a left-back, has been given the number 8 jersey. Those of us who feel that way are probably showing our age a little but it’s a feeling that is hard to shake.Įcuador’s Pervis Estupiñan is going to wear number 7? But he’s a left-back. If you’ve taken a look down the squad lists and numbers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, how many of you have been stopped in your tracks through by a certain player’s number which just feels plain ‘wrong’?

Soccer kit number position