'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The number 8 shirt is not given the attention that the number 7, 9 or 10 shirts get. But that does not mean that the number 8s are any less important than the rest. In the modern-day game, the number 8 is worn by attacking midfielders whose job is to make space in congested areas and both create and score goals.
Playing in midfield, these players are usually excellent dribbles of the ball, wriggling out of tight spaces with their tidy footwork and then releasing the attackers with well-weighted through balls or going for glory from distance.
Some of the greatest players of the game have donned the number 8 shirt. Let's take a look at 8 of the greatest number 8s of all time.
#8 Gennaro Gattuso
The toughest of them all. Gennaro Gattuso had no reservations about getting in the opponents face and at times, his rage would flow over into his interactions with the ref as well. But don't let the aggression take anything away from his game, Gattuso was an excellent player for both Italy and AC Milan.
Andrea Pirlo evolved into one of the greatest mifielders of his generation thanks to the work that Gattuso was putting behind him. 'Rino' protected his defence with vigor and his fiery performances were always a treat to watch.
Gattuso made up for his lack of flashy skills with his work rate and passion for the game. He won 2 Scudettos, 1 Champions League and a World Cup in his career and will go down as one of the best defensive midfielders of our times.
#7 Juninho Pernambucano
Arguably the greatest free-kick taker of all time, Juninho was an excellent playmaker and went on to become one of Olympique Lyon's all time greats providing numerous assists and scoring over a 100 goals in his career.
It was Juninho's arrival that galvanized the Lyon side who had never been crowned before domestically. Juninho would then lead his club to 7 consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He won the Ligue 1 player of the year once and was named in the Ligue 1 team of the year on 3 occasions.
To confine Juninho to a great free-kick taker would be reductive. Juninho could create chances in attack with his exquisite passing which is the reason why he has racked up a truckload of assists. He also had great vision and great footballing intelligence and could score worldies from distance.
#6 Toni Kroos
Real Madrid's world-class midfielder Toni Kroos is going to be remembered as a legend of the game. The German has been absolutely brilliant for the Blancos and has been a blessing for them with his passing and extraordinary vision.
Real Madrid signed him in 2014 for £25 million and the deal is still considered a bargain. Kroos has won 2 La Liga titles, 2 Supercopa de Espana and 3 back to back Champions League titles as well.
Kroos is never the fastest player on the pitch. But he more than makes up for it with his incredible passing range and accuracy with both feet. Alongside Luka Modric, he was one of the most feared midfield duos in Europe in recent times. Kroos is also a set-piece specialist.
#5 Frank Lampard
The Chelsea maestro needs no introduction. Part of the group of players who would lift Chelsea out of irrelevance and onto the summit of club football, Frank Lampard has been an absolute genius in midfield for the Blues and is one of the Premier League greats.
A creative and technically proficient box-to-box midfielder, Frank Lampard established himself in Chelsea as a midfielder who is also a prolific goalscorer. He is Chelsea's all time leading goal scorer and has won 3 Premier League titles and 1 Champions League title with the Blues.
He won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 2005 and finished as the runner-up of for both the Ballon d'Or and FIFA Player of the Year award that same year.
#4 Steven Gerrard
Stevie G joined Liverpool in 1997 and went on to serve them for 17 long years. He was the captain of the side for 12 years from 2003. Gerrard broke onto the scene scoring some screamers from midfield. He also showed maturity way beyond his age as a youngster.
Gerrard's best moment in a Liverpool shirt was winning the UEFA Champions League in Istanbul after going 3-0 down at half-time against AC Milan. Gerrard scored a goal and then won a penalty as Liverpool drew the game and then went on win in penalties.
Gerrard had a beastly right foot and has scored some absolutely outrageous goals. He was also an excellent deep-lying playmaker and used to make his team tick with excellent passing and vision.
#3 Hristo Stoichkov
Part of the Johan Cruyff dream team that won 4 consecutive La Liga titles and 1 Champions League, Stoichkov was a generational talent. He is regarded as one of the greatest forwards of the 90s.
In the 1994 World Cup, he led the line for Bulgaria, taking his country to the last 4 and winning the Golden Shoe after scoring 6 goals in the tournament. Stoichkov also won the Ballon d'Or that year thanks to his exploits for both club and country.
He was also the runner up for the FIFA World Player of the Year on two occasions and has won the Bulgarian Player of the Year award a whopping 5 times. 'El Pistolero' was a tenacious left-footed forward whose versatility saw him play both as a striker and as a creative midfielder in his illustrious career.
Having started as a left-back, Stoichkov's explosive pace was always tough to negotiate for defenders and his left-footed screamers were simply unstoppable.
#2 Lothar Matthaus
Considered to be one of the greatest midfielders of all time, Lothar Matthaus shares the record of having played 5 FIFA World Cups with Mexico's Rafael Marquez. Matthaus led the West Germany side to World Cup glory in 1990. He has played for Borussia Monchengladbach, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in his club career.
He was named the European Player of the Year in 1990 as well and went on to win the first FIFA Player of the Year award in 1991. He even won the German Footballer of the Year in 1999 at the age of 38. That just goes to show how consistent a performer he was on the big stage.
Matthaus is famous for his marauding runs from midfield, leaving defenders for dead with his excellent control and acceleration. The German legend had great positional sense, great vision and could leather the ball into the back of the net from anywhere. He was also an excellent tackler and was simply a complete midfielder.
#1 Andres Iniesta
Andres Iniesta will go down in history as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. He was part of what are now considered the greatest international team and the greatest club team of the 21st century.
Don Andres has had an incredibly illustrious career and many football fans believe that he was robbed of a Ballon d'Or on multiple occasions. Iniesta's dribbling, passing and vision were simply unmatched and alongside Xavi and Busquets, he formed a trio that was unstoppable for several years both for Barcelona and for Spain in the international circuit.
He has won the La Liga title 9 times and the Champions League on 4 occasions with Barcelona. Iniesta scored Spain's winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final. He finished 2nd, 4th and 3rd in the race for Ballon d'Or in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.
The diminutive no. 8 was simply unstoppable on his day, moseying out of cul-de-sacs and picking out passes that were simply inconceivable to the layman. Iniesta is still playing after leaving Barcelona in 2018 and currently represents Japenese club Vissel Kobe.
