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Real Madrid: Ranking the best number 10s in club history

By Manas Pratim Sharma

HUESCA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Luka Modric of Real Madrid CF looks on during the La Liga Santander match between SD Huesca and Real Madrid at Estadio El Alcoraz on February 06, 2021 in Huesca, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
HUESCA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 06: Luka Modric of Real Madrid CF looks on during the La Liga Santander match between SD Huesca and Real Madrid at Estadio El Alcoraz on February 06, 2021 in Huesca, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Spain remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) /
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In the world of kit numbers in football, the number 10 holds a special status. It is generally given to the team’s star playmaker. At times, the number has also been worn by star forwards who possess fluent playmaking skills whilst scoring goals. Either way, it is not a number to be taken lightly but one that needs to be earned.In Real Madrid, several club legends and important players have adorned the Royal White fabric with a 10 printed on the back.

One of such important players was Clarence Seedorf who makes into this list only as an honorary mention registering 20 goals and 17 assists in the three seasons that he wore the number 10 shirt. As good as he was, he indeed wasn’t a traditional number 10. He had an eye for goal, was explosive, and possessed great strength and power that him a difficult presence to deal with for opponents. That meant he was still a success wearing the 10 though his style of play didn’t ideally fit the number.

However, here is an attempt to highlight the best players to have worn the number 10 and justified its sanctity in over a century of glorious club history.

Mesut Ozil, Real Madrid (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
Mesut Ozil, Real Madrid (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) /

5. MESUT OZIL

The German playmaker, Mesut Ozil, in my opinion, is one of the most unselfish players to have played the game.  After the FIFA World Cup in 2010, Ozil emerged as one of the most sought-after transfer targets having maintained quality performances throughout the tournament. Real Madrid didn’t let the opportunity slip and signed him at a bargain. He hopped on to wear the number 10 that he inherited from Lassana Diarra.

Ozil joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 and quickly became a crowd favorite at the Bernabeu and quite honestly, I wasn’t surprised at all. He is one of those players who make the game look so easy. He would pick up the most ideally placed forward with immense precision and make it look ridiculously easy to play football. After Guti, Ozil in my opinion is the best playmaker that Madrid has ever boasted.

To give you an idea, before moving to Arsenal in 2013, Ozil had played three seasons with Real Madrid. In them, his goal contributions in terms of goals and assists per 90 minutes never dropped below 0.56 in any competition for once. His highest was 0.97 in the 2012-13 La Liga season, per Fbref.com. And, in actual terms that account for 27 goals and 80 assists in a total of 159 appearances. That is a ridiculously consistent record to keep for a number 10 and he is thus the perfect contender to kick start this list at the fifth spot.

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