On 2022-11-13 14:40, Lléo wrote:
One week to go! Today we look into the #7's of World Cup history.
Though #7 goes usually to a midfield or attacking player, there are actually defenders and even a goalkeeper in today's list.
Going into his fifth World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo will be the player who
wore the number for most WC's, if he is given Portugal's #7 this time around as well (as he probably should), having donned it since 2010. The holder of the scoring record of international football, he succeeded another famous Portuguese #7, Luis Figo, who used it in 2002 and 2006 and in Euros 2000 and 2004.
Germany brings to the table Pierre Littbarski, who was Germany's #7 in three World Cups (1982 to 1990), finalist in all of them. England had David Beckham from 1998 to 2006, and #7 was also the first and only squad number of Stanley Matthews, in 1954.
Bryan Robson, England captain, wore 7 in 1986 and 1990, though he
actually achieved more in 1982 wearing 16. He got injured in both 1986
and 1990 in group stage games. In 1982, England's squad were numbered (mostly) alphabetically (except the GK who got 1, 13, and 22 in
Alphabetical order) and Keegan who got his standard 7, and played only a
few minutes. France did something very similar with their numbers in
1982. (Platini got 10, rest alphabetical in each position, which Italy
also did). Argentina also by alphabet except Maradona.
From Italy there's Alessandro del Piero (2002 and 2006),
but also Gaetano Scirea (1982) and Paolo Maldini, whose first number was #7 in
1990.
Kevin de Bruyne was the bearer of the Belgian #7 standard in 2014 and 2018, and presumably will be again in 2022. Other worthy European mentions are Spain's Raúl (2002 and 2006) and David Villa (2010 and 2014), Ukraine's Andriy
Shevchenko (2006) and Bulgaria's Emil Kostadinov (1994 and 1998), scorer of his country's last minute winner in 1993, in the final qualifier against France,
in Paris.
Hopping over to South America we meet the number's top goalscorer, Brasil's Jairzinho, with his 9 goals in WC's 1970 and 1974. Brasil also brings one of its all time greats, Garrincha, who used it in 1962 and carried the team to the Cup after Pelé's injury in the group stage match against Czechoslovakia. Bebeto (1994), Romario's most famous partner, should be brought up here as well.
Argentina had Angel di Maria using #7 in 2010 and 2014. There's Jorge Burruchaga,
author of the title-winning goal of 1986, wore it in 1990 as well. Claudio Caniggia took it in 1994. And Argentina presents us with a goalkeeper with this number, from the epoch they numbered their squad alphabetically: Ubaldo Fillol, who wore it in 1982.
Chile's golden generation member Alexis Sanchez used La Roja's #7 in 2010 and 2014. So did Elias Figueroa, in 1966, and Carlos Caszely in 1974. Caszely, a fine right-winger who famously refused to shake Pinochet's hands when the dictator visited the team before they flew to Germany, unfortunately became the first player to be shown a red card in a World Cup match (cards were adopted
in 1970, but no one was sent off in that Cup).
#7 was also Uruguay's Edinson Cavani's first squad number, in 2010. And other honourable mentions go to two players who scored shockwave-generating goals: North Korea's Pak Doo-ik (1966), scorer of his side's unlikely win over Italy in the group stage, which sent North Korea through instead of Italy; and François
Oman-Biyik (1990 to 1998), scorer of Cameroon's winning goal against Argentina
in the World Cup 1990 opening match.
As always, feel free to add to the above or correct anything that you see wrong. Next to come, #6!
Best regards,
Lléo
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