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. 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

escrevi:
> One week to go! Today we look into the #7's of World Cup history.
>
>[SNIP]
> #7 was also Uruguay's Edinson Cavani's first squad number, in 2010.

And of course, I had to miss the most famous Uruguayan #7 - or, arguably,
the most famous #7 of all: Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia Pereyra, hero of the
Maracanazo of 1950. It was before squad numbers, but Uruguay did use
1-11 numbering in that Cup and Ghiggia was #7. My bad, I'm kicking myself
over that right now.

Ghiggia used to say that "only three people ever silenced Maracanã: Pope
John Paul II, Frank Sinatra and I". He was the last surviving player of that
game, passing away on the same calendar day, July 16th, but 65 years later.
Honoured at Maracanã's Hall of Fame, he also played a few matches for the
Italian national team during the time he played for Roma, but not at the World
Cup.

Best regards,

Lléo

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