The Role of No. 10 in Football: Top 10 Best Number 10s in Football Today

Every football team has one. He might not be the captain nor the guy who runs the most kilometres. I’m talking about the player everyone else quietly looks at when the match gets stuck and a miracle is really needed. I’m referring to that guy who sees a pass nobody else sees. The one who can unlock a defense with a single through pass.

In football, that player is most likely the No. 10.

If you are small business owner, you already know this kind of persons. They're the one in the conference room who sees how the pieces fit before any other staff, and who turns a raw idea into something extraordinary. Football just gave that job a shirt number.

So let's talk about what the role of the shirt number 10 really is, why it's changing in modern day football and who's at the top of the role right now.

A little heads up, this is my ranking, so you can disagree with some of my picks, that’s totally understandable and also the fun part.

What Is the Role of the No. 10 in Football?

To cut it short, the No. 10 is the playmaker and game tempo decider of the team. Traditionally, the No.10  plays just behind the striker between the opponent's midfield and defence. Their job is to find passes no other player sees or to score unexpectedly.

Some football fans call them the attacking midfielders, others refer to them as talisman. Different names but same idea.

Basic Roles of the No. 10 Player

·       They're the connecting bridge between the midfield and attack.

·       The create scoring chances via through balls, flicks, set pieces, just anything that works.

·       Takes free kicks, penalties, steps up for the team.

·       Sets the tempo and mood of the team.

When the  No.10 player is at the top of his game, the whole team looks sharper and formidable. Think of it like a movie director. They don't do any acting, but the whole movie depends on their foresight.

Why the Number 10 is so Important

Shirt numbering started as a way to easily  differentiate and identify players on the football pitch.  It also helped in hinting the player’s position and role on the pitch. The likes of Pelé wore the 10 for Brazil, and Maradona, Platini, Zidane, Ronaldinho and Messi for their different national teams and clubs.

For some teams, the number 10 shirt can only be won by players with extra ordinary performance, take Barcelona for example. Their 10 has been worn by Maradona, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Messi. When the mantle  rested on teenager Lamine Yamal, he told interviewers that Messi had made his path and he’s here to make his own.

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Shirt vs Role – The Twist

If you’ve been following football for a whilr, you must have noticed that some shirt numbers don’t match their roles. What I mean is that the number on the back and the job delivered on the pitch aren't always the same.

While some players wear the 10 shirt but play as wingers or strikers. Other players carryout the responsibilities of the 10 shitt while wearing a completely different number.

The England team for the 2026 World Cup is a perfect example. Before the tournament began Skysports reported reported that five players are competing for the number 10 role that’s beside its current bearer Harry Kane. The report listed Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham as the main options, and Phil Foden and Eberechi Eze also in the mix. None of that is about shirts. It's about the job.

Advancements to the No. 10 Role

The old-school 10 could stroll around, pick a pass, ignore defending score a goal or two in 30 appearance. That version is obsolete in todays football.

Coaches now want the number 10 player to press, run, support the defense and still produce magic. The space between the lines is tighter, defenders are faster, and one lazy touch can start a counterattack. So the modern 10 has to be fast, tough and above all skillful.

Top 10 Best Number 10s in Football Today

And finally we’ve reached the fun part, the countdown of the top 10 best number 10 players in today’s football. I'm ranking by a mix of influence, creativity and how much their team depends on them. Note that this is totally my opinion and the list will be updated regularly. You are free to disagree with me, tip in a few suggestions and also share your feedbacks. That said, lets begin:

10. Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid)

Atlético's record signing midfielder Alex Baena took over the club's No. 10 shirt in 2025, replacing Ángel Correa. Baena is a left-footed player with an incredible delivery from set pieces and he fits thre Atletico Madrid team that likes to hit hard on the counter attack.

His name is here bcause he's a classic No 10 shirt-bearer who also delivers magnificently on the job.

9. Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest)

Gibbs-White is a perfect reminder that you actually don’t need a giant club to be a great 10. After coach Vítor Pereira arrived, he became one of the most dangerous midfielders in the premier league and finished last season with 15 league goals, 12 of them from January 2026 onward, according to Football365.

He’s featured on this list for his creative passes and goal scoring abilities. He’s literally a nightmare to most defenders in the league.

8. Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)

Morgan Rogers is a different kind of number 10. Powerful, direct and fearless, he drives through tight spaces with the urgency of a player who knows exactly where the goal is. Rather than simply sitting between the lines and picking passes, Rogers carries the ball into dangerous areas, forces defenders into making punishable decisions His ability to turn under pressure and attack spaces makes him a major weapon in Aston Villa's attacking system.

He is also a delightful and important addition to the England team. Reports surrounding England's World Cup squad have pointed to Thomas Tuchel's trust in Rogers in the number 10 role.

He gained his spot on this list because Rogers represents the modern day number 10 through his power, ball-carrying ability and willingness to drive Villa forward make him a crucial part of their attack.

7. Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid / England)

Bellingham can play almost anywhere in midfield, although most people believe that’s an incredible gift others think it’s a huge problem to him. For England he's been mounted as an answer to the No. 10 question. He is fearless and most dangerous when he arrives late into the 18-yards box.

Jude mostly plays as a second striker with exceedingly stunning midfield abilities who does the job of the number 10 perfectly well.

6. Cole Palmer (Chelsea / England)

Cole Palmer makes football look like a game played at his own pace. While defenders scramble to close him down, he seems to have an extra second to pick his next move. He mostly combines close control, sharp passing and a deadly left foot to unlock defences that look impossible to break. What separates Palmer is not just his technical ability but his composure when the pressure mounts.

Palmer represents the modern number 10 in its most clinical form. He can create chances, dictate attacking moves and score goals without needing to dominate every touch.

5. Rayan Cherki (Manchester City)

Cherki is pure entertainment. Dribbles nobody asked for, passes nobody saw. The guys at Football365 strongly believe that he and Jérémy Doku look clearly better than Phil Foden for City right now, which is a big statement in itself.

Cherki is the most skillful and fun to watch on this list with just a few goals to show for it. Whether he's the most consistent is a debate for another day.

4. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich / Germany)

Musiala wears the 10 for Germany and is the standard for the modern version of the role – tiny but thoughtful passes, breaking through tight spaces and a lot of calm. He's the player I'd show anyone who wants to understand why the 10 is still the coolest position to play-in in football.

Musiala’s dribbling in tight areas is the best you will see in football today and the German national team builds around him.

3. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami / Argentina)

Yes, still here. A recent World Cup preview called him the most prominent No. 10 at the tournament, and it's hard to argue. He captains Argentina, he wears the 10 and he still sets the standard.

Some numbers for context: at Barcelona he made 778 appearances, scored a club-record 672 goals and added 303 assists, per Stadium Astro. He's an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi might not be at the peak of his football career anymore, but his reading of the game is still ahead of most people half his age.

2. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid / France)

Mbappé took over Real Madrid's No. 10 after Luka Modrić left, and he's worn the same number for France since 2018. That makes him a double-10.

However, in the old-school sense I won’t consider Mbappe to be a true No.10 because he is more of  a runner and a finisher. But modern football has stretched the role, and he's the fastest and most dangerous version of that stretch.

Nobody on this list punishes a defensive mistake faster than Mbappe.

1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Take a second to think about this. Barcelona handed Yamal the number 10 on his 18th birthday, alongside a contract through 2031. At the age most of us were figuring out how to get into college. He inherited the shirt of Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi and he didn't shrink.

He plays on the right, cuts inside and makes decisions like a veteran. He's the best mix of flair, end product and big-moment nerve in the game right now, which is why he's my number one.

What Small Business Owners Can Learn From the Football No. 10

This is the best part of this article, I promised a business angle and I think it's more useful than it sounds.

The 10's value comes from connecting people. In business, the person who connects design, sales and product is often worth more than any single specialist.

The best 10s find space nobody is guarding. Most winning ideas live between categories, not inside them.

Handle pressure with a calm face. Yamal's reaction to the shirt is a masterclass: respect the legacy, then do your own thing.

The lazy 10 vanished. If your skills haven't changed in three years you need to embark on upgrading yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the No. 10 do in football?

The No. 10 is the main creative player. They play behind the striker, link midfield to attack, create chances and often score or take set pieces.

Is the No. 10 a midfielder or a forward?

It's a bit of both. Most are classed as attacking midfielders, but some play closer to the striker as second strikers, and some start wide and drift inside.

Why is the number 10 so special?

Because of who has worn it. Pelé, Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldinho and Messi turned a simple squad number into a symbol of creativity and leadership.

Who is the best No. 10 in the world right now?

It's a matter of opinion. I picked Lamine Yamal for the combination of age, flair and impact, but Mbappé, Messi and Musiala all have strong cases.

Does a No. 10 have to wear the number 10?

No. Many players do the job without the shirt. England's No. 10 debate has been about who fills the role, not who gets the number.

Is the traditional No. 10 dying out?

The old, slow, don't-defend version is. The role itself isn't dying. It's changing into a player who creates and works hard without the ball.

Conclusion

The No. 10 is football's most romantic job. It asks one player to be an artist, a leader and a problem-solver, usually in about two square metres of space with defenders breathing on them.

Today's best, from Yamal and Mbappé to Musiala, Cherki and Messi, show that the role is alive and getting more interesting. It's faster and tougher, but still full of the little tricks that make us watch in the first place.

So here's my question for you: who's your No. 10, and who did I get wrong? Drop your top three in the comments, share this with the friend who always argues about football, and subscribe if you want more breakdowns like this