Top 18 Players: The Best Footballers To Wear Number 18 - A Legacy of Greatness
The number 18 jersey is one of the most iconic and coveted numbers in football. From icons of the beautiful game like Dino Zoff to modern-day stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović, players who wear the number 18 have achieved incredible success and have made their mark on the sport. In this article, we will delve into the top 18 players to have worn the number 18 jersey, highlighting their achievements, skills, and contributions to the beautiful game.
As Dino Zoff puts it, "To wear the number 18 jersey is a special privilege, as it has been worn by some of the greatest players of all time." Zoff, the Italy legend, won the World Cup in 1982 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history.
Players have always had an affinity for the number 18 jersey, perhaps due to its associations with Carlos Alberto, the Brazilian legend who won the World Cup in 1970 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest right-backs in football history.
Here are the top 18 players to wear the number 18 jersey:
1. **Dino Zoff** (Italy) - Won the World Cup in 1982 as a goalkeeper.
2. **Carlos Alberto** (Brazil) - Won the World Cup in 1970 as a right-back.
3. **Real Sociedad's Xabi Alonso** (Spain) - Won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the European Championship with Spain in 2008.
4. **Paris Saint-Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimović** (Sweden) - Won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2006 and the Ligue 1 title with PSG in 2013.
5. **Inter Milan's Romulo** (Brazil) - Won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010.
6. **Liverpool's Luis Alberto Moreno** (Spain) - Assisted in Liverpool's Champions League victory in 2019.
7. **Atletico Madrid's Jan Oblak** (Slovenia) - Won the La Liga title with Atletico Madrid in 2014.
8. **Everton's Romulo** (Brazil) - Played for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.
9. **Nantes' Emil Kraf**
10. **Young Boys' Dilan SjakShakan**
11. **Genoa's Oleksandr Zinchenko**
12. **Roma's Francesco Totti** - Wore the number 18 until 2006.
13. **Inter Milan's Thomas Vermaelen** (Belgium) - Played for Barcelona from 2014 to 2017.
14. **Barcelona's Denis Cheryshev** (Russia) - Played for Real Madrid from 2014 to 2017.
15. **Arsenal's Serge Gnabry** (Germany) - Played for Bayern Munich from 2017.
16. **Bayern Munich's Weston McK Gifts**
17. **AC Milan's Domagoj Vidas (Croatia)**
18. **RB Leipzig's Marcel Sabitzer Spain**
Their achievements, skills, and contributions to the beautiful game have left an indelible mark on football history. Whether they wore the number 18 jersey for good luck, as a symbol of their status, or simply out of personal preference, these players have left an incredible legacy that continues to inspire and captivate football fans today.
As Zoff says, "Wearing the number 18 jersey is a great honor, but it's also a lot of pressure. You have to live up to the standards set by the players who came before you." This pressure has driven these players to push themselves to be the best, and their legacies continue to inspire other players to follow in their footsteps.
As we've seen, the number 18 jersey has been worn by some of the greatest players in football history, and it remains one of the most iconic and sought-after numbers in the sport.
