World Cup 2018: 10 top number 10s to watch out for

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The number 10 is the Holy Grail of world football and these superstars are expected to be shining lights at the World Cup

Jersey number 10 is the holy grail of jerseys and at the upcoming FIFA World Cup, the players wearing this number will be among the most watched.

The history of the World Cup is filled with magical players who have put in amazing performances for their nations while wearing this jersey.

Think Gheorghe Hagi, the magnificent left-footed genius who led Romania to an unlikely quarter-final appearance at USA 1994. Honourable mention for the genius of Lothar Mattheus who drove Germany forward to the title at Italia 90.

It is no coincidence that some of the greatest players to ever play the beautiful game at the world’s premier stage also wore this jersey with pride. Diego “Armando” Maradona was the genius behind Argentina’s triumph at the World Cup in Mexico (1986).

The man with whom Maradona has always contested the G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time) title, Edson Arantes do Nascimento popularly known as Pelé was the genius who led Brazil to its third title in 1970 (also hosted by Mexico).

Russia 2018 promises another feast of genius sporting the “10”, here is a look at 10 of the very best:

#10 Thiago Alcantara (Spain)

It would normally be expected that the number 10 for a nation like Spain will be ranked higher but such is the quality of La Furia Roja that even one as talented as Thiago might not start.

A genuine world-class talent who is blessed with incredible balance and agility that allows him to skip into space and past a marker, Thiago is also capable of playing the long searching balls either in the air on the ground that are the hallmark of all the world’s best registas.

He is most adept at playing long searching balls either in the air or the ground, passes that are unique to the world’s truly elite registas and his ability to retain possession and drive the team forward from deep will be key for a Spanish team that looks set to pass opponents off the pitch.

#9 John Obi Mikel (Nigeria)

The former Chelsea midfielder will be the captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the World Cup and will be responsible for driving the team forward.

The team’s most experienced player, he is an adept passer of the ball capable of going short or long depending on the team’s needs.

A midfielder who defends like a matured centre-back would: with intelligence and an excellent reading of the game; his excellent long-range passing and the vision to by-pass the opposition’s midfield with balls over the top will be crucial for a team that looks set to play on the counter.

This defensive nous coupled with his brilliant passing and ability to dictate the tempo of a game will be of great help in slowing the game down at certain times to help his defenders recover and disrupt the flow of the opposition’s attacks.

#8 Raheem Sterling (England)

While a lot of the talk concerning the Manchester City winger pre-tournament has been about the disgraceful hounding by the English press, the 23-year-old will be one of England’s most potent weapons at the World Cup.

Expected to occupy the playmaker’s role with licence to roam, the Three Lions’ manager Gareth Southgate will be hoping that Sterling’s newfound ability to pick a pass, make intelligent moves and orchestrate play (thanks to Pep Guardiola’s teachings) will serve the national team in a capacity different from the one he filled for the Cityzens.

His speed, trickery, and ability to find himself in the right position at the right time would be crucial for an English team that is not expected to do much.

Expected to share creative duties with Dele Alli and operate behind captain Harry Kane, Sterling’s new found confidence and ability to beat an opponent will be of vital importance to England’s hopes of doing good things at the FIF World Cup.

#7 Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

It is actually impossible to overstate the importance of Salah to the Egyptian cause and it is expected that the entire nation will spend the rest of Ramadan praying for the Liverpool star’s recovery.

While he has had an exceptional season for the Reds, it is his commitment to the Egyptian cause that has most endeared him to his nation and its fans as exemplified by the raw emotions witnessed when he scored the winning penalty which sent the Pharaohs to its first Mundial in almost twenty-eight years.

Pacy, strong and a brilliant finisher, Salah’s intelligence and ability to draw defenders to himself while finding space to exploit will be key for an Egyptian side that is not the most prolific of scorers.

#6 Kylian Mbappe (France)

The searing pace, amazing dribbles, and unerring finishing. No, it’s not Thierry Henry but rather the 18-year-old tyro; Kylian Lottin Mbappé that has taken French and European football by storm.

The youngster’s ascent to the pinnacle of football has been nothing short of rapid and it seems to be a journey that is set to culminate in being crowned the world’s premier footballer.

Playing in a Les Bleus team whose attacking arsenal will be second to none at Russia 2018, the second youngest player at the tournament will be expected to contribute his fair share of goals, assists, and excitement.

Mbappé has demonstrated the skills and touch of a markedly older player and it would not be a surprise if the 19-year-old light up the tourney.

#5 James Rodriguez (Colombia)

The golden boy for Los Cafeteros and arguably the best player at the last World Cup in Brazil 4 years ago, Russia 2018 will see a more mature and infinitely better version of Colombia’s favourite heartthrob.

Expected to play just behind former AS Monaco teammate Ramadel Falcao, James will be the creative fulcrum for Jose Pekerman’s team and on his capable shoulders will rest a huge part of the creative and goalscoring burden.

Blessed with the sort of vision that has come to be expected from the world’s elite playmakers, his intelligence, great passing, ability to get himself into great goalscoring positions and delivery from setpieces will be of great value to a team that is being seen as one of the tournament’s dark horses.

#4 Luka Modric (Croatia)

The always smiling image of this ridiculously gifted midfielder is one that fans love to see but for an opposing player who has been made to spend 90 minutes running around like a headless chicken, its one of terror.

Few nations will have the quality of midfielders available to the Vatreni (Blazers) and at its heart will be the Real Madrid maestro whose form will go a long way to determine Croatia’s journey at the Mundial.

Modric’s skill at evading even the most ardent opponents, his vision in spreading play couples with his tenacity and underrated ball-winning skills make him the perfect complement to fellow blonde genius Ivan Rakitic’s passing range.

It is expected that manager Zlatko Dalic will deploy his captain as the team’s playmaker but given his roving nature and desire to be in the thick of the action, expect to see him ghosting through opponents and leaving them for dead at the tournament.

#3 Mesut Ozil (Germany)

As defending champions, Die Mannschaft will be coming into the World Cup with a giant target on its back, however, with the presence of players like Ozil, few are betting against them retaining the title.

Often criticized for his attitude and performances for Arsenal in the Premier League, the player who dons the number 10 short for Germany is a completely different beast.

It has become a feature of the defending champion’s play to see the 29-year-old orchestrating play with his pinpoint passing and excellent ball possession even under pressure.

Ozil will be chiefly responsible for adding guile and precision to the German attack and with the quality of wingers that are in the team (Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, and Julian Brandt), it is expected that the sleepy-eyed genius would make a hatful of assists in Russia.

#2 Neymar (Brazil)

Expected from a very young age to be the new Pelé, the new Romario, and the new Ronaldo all rolled into one, the pressure of being Brazil’s golden boy would have weighed down many a player but not Neymar.

Such is the self-confidence of this amazing talent that at just 25 years of age, he is already the 4th highest all-time goalscorer for a nation like Brazil. The most expensive player in world football following his transfer to PSG from FC Barcelona last season, 201 million Brazilians held their collective breath when he sustained an injury while playing for his French side.

That collective holding of breath gave way to relief and joy when he made his return to the national side and proceeded to score a wonder goal in the Canarinho‘s 2-0 victory over Croatia.

With his silky touches, close control, mazy dribbling skills and infectious personality, the wonder boy from Mogi das Cruzes has everything in his locker to become the best player in the world and leading his football-mad nation to its sixth World Cup title might just do the trick.

#1 Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Nobody else was expected to be atop this list, was there? Possibly the greatest number 10 in world football since his fellow Argentine GOAT; Maradona hung up his boots, this feels like the defining tournament of Messi’s illustrious career.

La Pulga Atomica (The Atomic Flea) has won everything (at least twice) at club level and has been victorious as well for the Albiceleste at junior level (U-20 World Cup and Olympic Gold). However, he alongside his soccer-mad compatriots have had to endure final heartache trice in a row (World Cup 2014, Copa America 2015 and Copa America Centenario 2016).

It is expected that Russia 2018 will be his final World Cup and one of the more interesting sub-plots will be if he can drive his subpar team to glory in a manner similar to Maradona in 86.

His close control, amazing passing, supreme goalscoring abilities alongside his many otherworldly talents are expected to be among the highlights of the tournament. It would not be an exaggeration to say an image of Messi lifting the World Cup on July 15th would be one of the most welcome images of 2018.