Ranking the 10 Best Number 9 in Football of All Time

While we have shifted to the era of new number 9s who deliver whopping numbers season in and season out, the change in terms of roles and responsibilities along with the definition of a number 9 is all about rich history. While some of us have heard a lot about these talented players, there are some of us who were lucky enough to enjoy these forwards gracing the football pitch with our own eyes.

While goal tally is a crucial factor in determining a forward’s competency, there are many contributing factors to what makes them the best at what they do. Contribution to the team and leading by example are two of the finest traits among forwards.

In this post, we take a trip back to memory lane and take a look at the top 15 number 9s who have graced the sports we grew up loving so much. Let us dive in!

Traits That Define an Elite Number 9

Goals Scored: The primary metric of any forward is the goals they have scored over their career. It is one of the contributing factors to this list.

Impact of the game: You win matches as a team, not by yourself. In addition to goals, one’s ability to have a positive impact in matches and being decisive in big matches is another important factor.

Trophies and Honors: Both personal and collective achievements are considered in this list as both of them are important metrics.

Style and Legacy: There are players who break records, then there are others who win the hearts of the fans and establish themselves as their favorite.

List of 10 Best Number 9 in Football History

Rank	Player Name	Matches	Goals	Country
10	Raul	1047	427	Spain
9	Didier Drogba	679	297	Cote d’ivorie
8	Inzaghi	694	288	Italy
7	Thierry Henry	792	360	France
6	Van Basten	280	218	Netherlands
5	George Weah	478	193	Liberia
4	Fernando Torres	706	260	Spain
3	Gerd Muller	793	735	Germany
2	Ronaldo Nazario	518	352	Brazil
1	Alfredo Di Stefano	521	376	Argentina/Spain

Top 10 Best Number 9 in Football of All Time

Players playing in the number 9 position have great impetus to provide iconic performances and take charge of the team. Some doubters accuse players in this position of stat padding without offering any real buildup for the team, this however completely sidelines the pressure on them to deliver goals, ensuring the team’s victory. The number 9s listed here have set the precedent for future generations of strikers to be as complete, calm under pressure and as certain to show up in the big games. Let us relive the joy of experiencing the greatness of these magicians through a deep dive into their stellar careers.

10. Raul Gonzalez

The Galactico was the pride of Spain and Real Madrid. During his illustrious career, Raul put on the number 9 Jersey with pride. From tactical brilliance to being a quality finisher, over his career, he has made many records for the club. He was the all-time top scorer for Los Blancos till Cristiano broke the record.

A striker so technically gifted that it wouldn’t have been surprising to see him play in the midfield. Although he preferred playing as a second striker, but his adaptability to the requirements of the Real Madrid squad makes his antics even more impressive. He did not just score goals; his vision and synergy with his teammates meant that more often than not, he found them in space, creating great goalscoring opportunities.

Notable clubs	Real Madrid, Schalke
Achievements	3xUEFA Champions League Winner, 6x La Liga Titles, Intercontinental Cup, German Cup
Individual Stats	for his club, 1044 games; 426 goals; 132 assists, meanwhile for his country, 102 caps; 44 goals

9. Didier Drogba

A warrior in the field and a gentleman of the pitch, Didier was just a big example everywhere he went. He came from Marseille to play for Mourinho at Chelsea. The Special one asked Roman Abramovic to just pay for him and not speak. 

It turned out to be the best decision the Russian owner made as together they won it all. His physicality on and off the ball and his traits of holding the ball was instrumental in Chelsea’s lone-forward play. Off the pitch, he is famous in his country for stopping a Civil War.

Notable clubs	Chelsea, Marseille, Galatasaray
Achievements	Champions League Winner, 4xPremier League Winner, 4xFA Cup Winner, 2xAfrican Footballer of the Year
Individual Stats	for his club, 679 games; 297 goals; 105 assists, for his national team, 105 caps; 65 goals

8. Filippo Inzaghi

While there are many great Italian Forwards we have seen, Inzaghi was one of the royals when we speak of an ideal number 9. There are hardly any players out there who have the awareness of the game and the ability to be in the right place at the right time like Pippo did. Throughout his career, he has scored from the most unusual situations.

Inzaghi was not physically dominant or technically gifted like other strikers in his era, however, his movement and reading of the game more than made up for it. He was notorious for his timing of runs and for appearing in high-scoring areas without letting the defenders catch a whiff.

Notable clubs	Juventus, AC Milan
Achievements	2xUCL, 2006 FIFA World Cup Winner, 3xSerie A titles
Individual stats	for his club, 694 games; 288 goals, for his country, 57 caps; 25 goals

7. Thierry Henry

While the Frenchman started his career as a Left Winger, he redefined the modern number 9 role in Arsenal under Wenger. The blend of finishing and pace truly made him the deadliest in the Premier League. And his record really speaks for itself.

His vision of the game as a striker played a crucial part in Arsenal’s Invincible run. The Frenchman silenced all the critics week in and out with his performance. As he switched to LA Liga to play for Barcelona, Henry evolved more under Pep, but this time as a different player. While the Frenchmen stayed a true for in the box, he enjoyed the passing game and the pressing of the ball. It is a shame that he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or. But that is a story for another day.

Notable clubs	Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus
Achievements	1998 FIFA World Cup Winner, 2000 UEFA Euro Winner, 2xEPL, 2xLa Liga, 1xUCL
Individual stats	for his club, 792 games; 360 goals;180 assists, for his country, 123 caps; 51 goals

Also Read: 12 Forgotten Footballers Still Playing in 2024

6. Marco Van Basten

Great things come for a short period, and this is exactly what Van Basten’s career is. His goal-scoring ability is something that is off the charts. Although the Dutch player hung up his boots early, he won three Ballon d’Or’s in that short career, summing up his excellence. Injuries were the main antagonist in his career as everyone to date wonders what could have been if he had been fit for a longer period.

Van Basten could pluck the most difficult passes out of the sky and subsequently place them in the net as if the keeper wasn’t even there. He always had a solution inside the box thanks to his unlimited arsenal of skill moves and finishing techniques.

Notable clubs	Ajax, AC Milan
Achievements	3xBallon d’Or’s (1988, 1989, 1992), 2xUCL, 6xLeague Titles, Euro 1988 winner
Individual stats	for his club, 280 games; 218 goals, for his country, 58 caps; 24 goals

5. George Weah

There is something special in you if you win Ballon d’Or as an African player due to the system’s dubious decision so far. Weah actually was special every time he stepped onto the pitch. A technically gifted forward, he had all the right skills and in-field traits that allowed him to win 3 Serie A titles and the Ballon d’Or in 1995.

A striker with such a stocky build, when combined his graceful movement and intelligence on the pitch, it was always a spectacle to watch. He was more than just a goal machine, although the goal pile also was pretty big. Weah used athleticism, which was not characteristic of his type of players, so much so that defenders would shudder at the thought of marking him in a game.

Notable clubs	AC Milan, PSG, Monaco
Achievements	2 Serie A Titles, Ballon d’Or 1995, African Footballer of the Century
Individual stats	for his club, 478 games; 193 goals, for his country, 75 caps; 18 goals

4. Fernando Torres

The Spaniard is in this list for various reasons. Blistering pace and explosive finish from an Early age allowed him to be a regular since he was 19 years old. From Atletico to Liverpool, El Nino had one of the scariest primes. He had stepped up on big matches and have been the difference maker. In Spanish history, he is the second top goal scorer after his teammate David Villa. Although consistency was an issue with Torres, he has sacrificed his career for World Cup when he traveled for the 2010 World Cup despite his injury. And in his words, it was worth it.

Over the years, El Nino won a lot of team trophies and individual ones as well. Nowadays, you will see him managing the B squad of his boyhood club Atletico Madrid.

Notable clubs	Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea
Achievements	UEFA Euro 2008 and 2012 Winner, World Cup 2010 Winner, UEFA Champions League Winner with Chelsea and Europa League Winner with Atletico Madrid, Golden Boot Euro 2012
Individual stats	For his club, 706 games; 260 goals, for his country, 110 caps; 38 goals

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3. Gerd Muller

His goal-scoring record and ability is a discussion of the century. He was nicknamed as the bomber. Known for his awareness and being at the right position at the right time, it is no wonder why the German has an amazing goal tally.

However, his excellence was not limited in club competitions. His health-scoring ability had led the German National Team to win the 1974 World Cup.

Notable clubs	Bayern Munich
Achievements	1974 World Cup, Most Goals in a Calendar year (85), which was broken by Leo Messi, 3xUCL, 4xBundesliga, 7xBundesliga Top Scorer
Individual stats	For his club, 793 games; 735 goals, for his country, 62 caps; 68 goals

2. Ronaldo Nazario

If there is one thing that all footballers and fans agree on, it is that Ronaldo Nazario is the epitome of a true number 9. Be it the dribbles or off the ball runs, the Brazilian had it all. 

He was the royalty of number 9s. He also considered the scale in which the number 9s is measured. Be it for the country or club, he was the man when the team needed consistency all season and someone to step up on big occasions. He was nicknamed as the phenomenon. And he truly was! The explosive pace and exquisite finishing made up a biggest threat for the defense line. His excellence earned him two World Cups and two Ballon d’Ors. 

Notable stats	Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid
Achievements	1994 and 2002 World Cup, 2xBallon d’Or, 3xFIFA World Player
Individual stats	For his club, 518 games; 352 goals, for his country, 98 caps; 62 goals

1. Alfredo Di Stefano

The first one in the list calls for one of the greats to do it. Di Stefano is one of the biggest names in Santiago Bernabeu. Among his many capabilities, his flexibility is one of the biggest assets. 

In Real Madrid’s domination in the 1950s, Di Stefano was the golden key. Creativity and intelligence were the two elements you could see in his play anytime he graced the pitch. The revolutionary number 9 had given the club 5 back-to-back European Glory. While the Real Madrid forward started his National career in Argentina, he changed his Nationality and started playing for Spain.

Notable clubs	Real Madrid, River Plate, Millonarios
Achievements	5xUCL, 8xLa Liga, Copa Libertadores, Super Ballon d’Or(1989)
Individual stats	For his club, 521 games; 376 goals, for his country, 37 caps; 29 goals

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