Jerseys have numbers so the players, game officials, fans and the media could identify each player. In the early days of the soccer uniforms, players got their numbers based on the team’s starting formation, with the number 1 being assigned to the goalkeeper and number 11 assigned to the team’s attacker or the second player most likely to make a goal. This could either be the forward wing or the wide midfielder. Thus a player donning a number was most likely a substitute.
With the arrival of television and media to cover the games and thus making soccer popular, numbers became connected with certain players. Players now acquired their numbers based on personal choice and not through where they were in the starting formation. Only the goal keeper retained the number 1.
When players become popular, so does their jersey number. This increased the marketability of the numbered buy soccer jersey. Soccer fans will never forget how a light blue Argentina jersey with the number 10 always raced past all players on the field and head towards the goal. Argentina’s most famous number 10 was Diego Maradona.
Barcelona jersey number 10 is worn by the current best player in the world, Lionel Messi. The number 10 is more often than not worn by the player that scores the most goals. The universal belief among most fans is the player with a number 10 jersey is the most important player of the team. Several times this perception has been proven to be accurate and it was always and still is regarded by players as a privilege to done the celebrated number10. |
Article Details