According to football number positions, the number 11 is typically designated to right t-wingers or right-wing forwards. Hence, most football players who wear the number 11 jersey are wingers.
The number 11 is one of the most exciting numbers on the football pitch. It is usually reserved for wing-forwards and strikers with flair and speed to beat their opposing players.
The number eleven will continue to rule the left-hand side of the attack as the number nine rules the centre-forward and number 1 rules the stick.
However, let’s take a look at the number 11s ruling world football at the moment in 2022/2023.
1. Mohammed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohammed Salah may have endured an indifferent 2022/2023 season that has limited him to six goals and three assists in fourteen Premier League games.
This is compared to 23 goals and 13 assists in 35 premier league games last season.
His UEFA Champions League statistics this isn’t bad either, with seven goals in six matches.
He couldn’t lead the Egyptian national team to the World Cup, but Salah’s speed, skills, and finishing abilities make him one of the best wingers in world football.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (AC Milan)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has ensured that age doesn’t downgrade him to the background of elite football.
The 41-year-old is currently injured, but his statistics last season include eight goals and three assists in 23 League games leading AC Milan to the Scudetto.
However you look at it, Zlatan remains a top striker and will go down as one of football’s greatest, and at the moment, even in injury, he retains the number 11 shirt.
3. Angel Di Maria (Argentina)
Angel Di Maria has played almost in every big club, from Real Madrid to Manchester United, PSG, and now Juventus.
The 34-year-old has managed to play 123 matches for the Argentina national team and is on his way to another World Cup with Argentina, his final most likely.
He got to the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and won the 2021 Copa America with the national team.
Like many football players who wear number 11, Angel Di Maria is primarily a right-winger.
It may come as a surprise, but Angel Di Maria is one of the footballers with the most assists in football history.
Di Maria sports the number 11 shirt for the Argentine national team, and has has been instrumental for them as they have one of the longest international unbeaten runs.
4. Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Ivorian winger Wilfred Zaha is one of the best soccer players who wear the number 11 shirt.
Despite not playing for a reverred big European football club, he has cemented his place as one of the best left-wingers in the world.
At Crystal Palace, Zaha dons the number 11 shirt, and he aptly shoulders the responsibility of leading the eagles’ attack, becoming their biggest source of goals season in and season out.
5. Marco Asensio (Real Madrid)
The 26-year-old Marco Asensio has been with Real Madrid since 2014, racking up over 169 appearances for the Los Blancos.
With the Spanish national team, he has 29 games after leading the Olympics side to the silver medal at Tokyo 2020 games.
Marco Asensio is also one of the most underrated footballers right now.
6. Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Gabriel Martinelli is already making the number 11 shirt at Arsenal as visible as it was during the days of Robin Van Persie.
The Dutch forward was iconic as some of the other players who wore 11 at Arsenal, including Marc Overmars and Mesut Ozil.
Last season, the Brazilian had six goals and six assists in 29 Premier League matches and has already made five goals and two assists in 14 games, securing a World Cup place.
7. Ferran Torres (Barcelona)
Neymar, Ousmane Dembele, and Rivaldo are some players who have worn 11 at Barcelona.
Ferran Torres took over the number 11 shirt from French forward Ousmane Dembele, in his second season at the club after joining the club from Manchester City.
Torres scored four goals and four assists in 18 La Liga games last season and scored two and two assists in the Europa League.
However, this season the Spanish international has just two in 13 La Liga games but has managed three goals in five UEFA Champions League games this season.
8. Arnaut Danjuma (Villarreal)
Arnaut Danjuma is one of the most underrated players on this list; having played for Bournemouth previously, he moved to the Yellow Submarines last season.
His statistics in the 2021/22 La Liga read ten goals and three assists in 23 games, while he has nine games and two assists this La Liga season.
Arnaut Danjuma is a pacy, aggressive, combative, and skillful winger, which undoubtedly makes him one of th best footballers who wear the number 11 jersey.
9. Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich)
French forward Coman has played for some big teams despite his fitness issues.
He featured for Juventus and PSG before moving to Germany in 2017 with the German giants.
Kingsley Coman is a great dribbler, finisher, and hardworking player.
He’s made the France national team for the World Cup but is not in great form after scoring just seven goals in 30 Bundesliga games across two seasons.
10. Hirving Lozano (Napoli)
Mexican winger Hirving Lozano has contributed three goals and three assists in fourteen games as Napoli leads the Serie A 2022/2023 season.
Napoli are also one of the unbeaten teams this season thanks to Lozano’s excellent displays.
The 27-year-old is set to better his five goals and five assists from 30 Serie A games from the previous season.
