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It is goals that win games. Talking of goalscorers, some of the world's greatest in the role have donned the iconic No. 9 shirt - a jersey that is quintessentially associates with goals.
The traditional no. 9 role has evolved over the years - with the advent of false nines and changes in football tactics - but the role remains essentially the same - to find the back of the net.
On that note, let's take a look at the ten greatest no. 9s in the history of the game.
#10 Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez is one of the greatest no. 9s in the history of the game and is of a select few who is still active.
The Uruguay international is one of the most complete strikers of this generation - excelling in every aspect of attacking play. Suarez is extremely good in hold-up play and equally adept in finding the back of the net consistently or picking out a dangerous pass.
The 34-year old has excelled at every club he has played for; he won the Eredivisie with Ajax, League Cup with Liverpool, also propelling them to a strong title challenge, before enjoying his peak at Barcelona.
Suarez won two European Golden Boots during his time at the Camp Nou, scoring 195 goals and providing 112 assists. He also won four La Liga titles, four Copa Del Rey honours and a European treble in 2014-15.
#9 Robert Lewandowski
Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski is one of the most clinical finishers in the history of the game. Blessed with an innate poaching prowess, he has scored a staggering tally of 454 goals at four different clubs.
Lewandowski started his career at Polish club Znicz Pruszkow. After playing for a while for Lech Poznan, he made a move to neighbouring Germany, where he joined Borussia Dortmund.
It was at Dortmund where Lewandowski burst onto the scene, scoring 103 goals in 187 appearances and winning two Bundesliga titles with the Black and Yellow. After four seasons at the club, Poland's #9 moved to Dortmund's Der Klassiker rivals, Bayern Munich.
The 32-year old enhanced his reputation at Munich - winning eight consecutive Bundesliga titles along with a European treble and FIFA's 'The Best' award last season.
Lewandowski (73 goals) is third in the Champions League's all-time goalscorers list, while he the only one to make it to the Top 5 in less than 100 appearances (96).
#8 Filippo Inzaghi
Next up, we have the Bianconeri and AC Milan legend, and arguably Italy's best-ever no. 9 - Filippo Inzaghi.
Inzaghi enjoyed his most successful stint with the Rossoneri, where he won two Champions League titles, two Scudettos, and one FIFA Club World Cup and Coppa Italia title.
The no. 9 is the seventh-highest goalscorer for Italy and holds the record for most hat-tricks (10) in Serie A. In one of the best performances of his career, Inzaghi scored a brace against Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final, helping the Rossoneri take a 2-1 victory.
Inzaghi was accomplished on the international stage as well, scoring 25 goals in 57 appearances for the national team. He won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was a finalist in the 2000 Euros with the Azzurri.
#7 Marco Van Basten
Marco Van Basten was one of the best strikers in the 80s, acting as the focal point of the star-studded Netherlands' victorious Euro 88 team.
Van Basten was one of the most illustrious strikers of the last century, enjoying immense success with Ajax Amsterdam and AC Milan. He won two consecutive European Champions Clubs Cup (now called the Champions League) in 1988-89 and 89-90.
AC Milan's rise coincided with Van Basten's peak years as he won the Ballon D'Or in 1988 and 1989 and a third honour in 1992. By the time the Dutchman hung up his boots at Milan, he scored 277 goals and provided 82 assists in 373 appearances.
#6 Gabriel Batistuta
Fiorentina and Argentina legend, Gabriel Batistuta was well known for his all-round game and was an able aide to Diego Maradona for his national team.
Batistuta was exceptional in his nine-season spell at Fiorentina - scoring over 200 goals in 331 appearances and etching his name in the club's history. He kept his commitment to the club, despite their demotion to the second tier.
Fondly called 'Batigol', the Argentine finished his career at AS Roma. With 184 goals, he is the 11th most prolific scorer in Serie A history.
However, the Argentine enjoyed the most success with his national team - winning the 1991 Copa America and finishing his career as Argentina's highest goalscorer, with 56 goals. Batistuta held the record for over 15 years before a certain Lionel Messi surpassed him in 2016.
#5 Alan Shearer
Next up, we have a player who holds almost all of English football's most impressive scoring records - Alan Shearer.
Shearer was one of the game's deadliest strikers in the modern era.
A Newcastle fan at heart, Shearer faced rejection from the Magpies,and went on to sign for Southampton as a teenager. Making his debut as a 17-year-old, Shearer immediately grabbed eyeballs with a hat-trick against Arsenal. A big-money move to Blackburn Rovers further enhanced his reputation; he scored 112 Premier League goals in 138 appearances as he led Blackburn to the Premier League title.
The Englishman eventually joined his boyhood club Newcastle United on a world-record £15m transfer fee. Shearer played some of his best football at Tyneside, ending up as the Premier League's top goalscorer, with 260 goals.
#4 Johan Cruyff
Widely renowned for donning the no. 14 jersey, Johan Cruyff spent a considerable amount of time in the no. 9 as well.
One of the most iconic no. 9s in the history of the game, Cruyff revolutionised and modernised the beautiful game, both as a player as well as a manager.
The Dutchman was the chief architect of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, which nurtured the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi, to name a few. While he was was a hugely prolific figure on the sidelines, Cruyff was among the elites in the game's history.
The Dutchman won the Ballon D'Or award on three occasions and propelled the Netherlands from being an average outfit to one of the powerhouses in world football. In 1999, Cruyff was voted the European Player of the Century; he scored 260 goals and registered 136 assists in 501 career appearances in club football.
#3 Gerd Muller
One of the best poachers in the game's history - Gerd Muller - scored a mammoth tally of 721 goals in only 769 appearances.
Often referred to as 'Der Bomber', Muller is regarded as one of the most clinical finishers ever, amassing an incredible return of 68 goals in 62 appearances for West Germany.
He was a vital component of the world-beating West German team in the late 60s and early 70s as they won the 1972 Euros and the 1974 FIFA World Cup.
Gerd Muller's contribution was also crucial in elevating Bayern Munich's reputation among Europe's elites; he won three European Champions Clubs Cups, four Bundesliga titles, four German Cups and an Intercontinental Cup during his time in Munich.
The Ballon D'Or winner spent his entire 15-season career at Bayern Munich, accumulating an astounding tally of 523 goals and 101 assists in 580 appearances.
#2 Alfredo Di Stefano
Dubbed 'The Blond Arrow', Alfredo Di Stefano was one of the best ever to grace the game. The Argentine, who later adopted Spanish nationality, was instrumental in Real Madrid and Spain's dominance of world football in the last century.
Di Stefano was a crucial component of the 'Club of the 21st century', which won an unprecedented five European Cups in the 1950s, thanks to the Argentine's heroics.
He had all the necessary attributes of a no. 9 but was also one of the best grafters of the game, thanks to his impeccable tactical awareness. The 2-time Ballon D'Or winner was known for being intricate and skilful in his gameplay, excellent close-ball control skills, ability to link up with midfield and great stamina to track down the ball.
Alfredo Di Stefano was Real Madrid's highest goalscorer (216 goals) before he was overtaken by Raul in 2009. He still holds the record for most goals by a Madridista in El Classicos (18). In 709 appearances in club football, the all-time great scored 519 goals.
#1 Ronaldo Nazario
Aptly referred to as 'El Fenomeno', Ronaldo Nazario is arguably the greatest striker in the history of the beautiful game. While Cristiano Ronaldo has earned an immense reputation as a goalscorer par excellence, the Brazilian legend is still the Ronaldo for those who were lucky enough to watch him in action.
He spent his career in four different countries and two continents, achieving monumental feats everywhere he stepped foot. The 2-time Ballon D'Or winner represented PSV Eindhoven in two seasons at the club, scoring 54 goals in 57 matches.
In 119 combined appearances for cross-town rivals Inter Milan and AC Milan, Ronaldo scored 68 goals in 119 outings. He spent one season at Barcelona and five at their fierce rivals, Real Madrid, notching up 151 goals in 226 games in the country.
Back home in the Brazilian league, the Hall of Famer scored 79 goals in 116 games. He also netted 62 times in 98 games for Brazil.
Ronaldo Nazario is one of four players to win the FIFA World Player of the Year accolade at least three times. Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is one of the greatest to have ever lived.
