Maradona to Yamal: Players who wore the number 10 for FC Barcelona

The number 10 shirt holds significant importance in team sports around the world. It carries a great deal of responsibility and is often associated with flair, creativity, and leadership. For some teams, this shirt is even more special than the rest, such is the case with FC Barcelona.

 

The Spanish heavyweight club has seen some of the greatest players ever to grace the pitch wear its iconic jersey. Legends like Diego Maradona, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and arguably the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi, have all worn the number 10 and produced magic for the Catalan club, resulting in numerous individual accolades and titles along the way.

 

Players of that caliber come once in a generation, and it seems that a new era is upon us. A 17-year-old Spanish prodigy has emerged from Barcelona’s famed academy, taking on defenders with ease and flair. Lamine Yamal has delivered one of the most impressive seasons a teenager has ever had on the biggest stage for FC Barcelona and is already being mentioned in Ballon d'Or conversations.

 

With Yamal turning 18 soon, he is reportedly set to inherit the legendary number 10 shirt, a sign of the immense trust and belief the club has in him for the years to come. Already a champion in La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Supercopa de España, Yamal recently added a UEFA Euro title with the Spanish national team to his growing list of achievements. 

 

Here are all the players who had the priviledge to wear the Barcelona number 10 over the years - 

 

Players wear number 10 for FC Barcelona
Player	Period Worn	Appearances	Goals	Notable Performances
László Kubala	1950–1961	357	281	Hungarian legend, won 4 La Liga titles and 5 Copas del Generalísimo
Luis Suárez Miramontes	1960/61	176	80	Ballon d’Or winner in 1960, key playmaker
Evaristo de Macedo	1957–1961	114	78	Brazilian forward, scored first hat-trick at Camp Nou
Juan Manuel Asensi	1978/79	396	100	Stats for entire Barça career, wore No. 10 for one season
Diego Maradona	1982–1984	58	38	Argentine legend, won Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup
Gary Lineker	1986–1989	138	52	English striker, number 10 usage less certain
Roberto Fernández	1989/90	58	15	Stats for entire Barça career, limited number 10 data
Josep Guardiola	1991/92	47	0	Wore No. 10 briefly, known for overall career (414 apps, 11 goals)
Guillermo Amor	1992/93	567	89	Stats for entire career, Dream Team stalwart
Hristo Stoichkov	1993/94	48	24	Bulgarian legend, primarily wore No. 8 (341 apps, 162 goals)
Romário	1993–1995	84	53	Brazilian striker, FIFA World Player of the Year 1994
Gheorghe Hagi	1994/95	51	11	Romanian playmaker, struggled to adapt
Jordi Cruyff	1994–1996	54	11	Johan Cruyff’s son, stats for entire career
Ángel Cuéllar	1995/96	15	2	Briefly wore No. 10 in second half of season
Emmanuel Amunike	1996/97	24	1	Nigerian winger, limited impact due to injuries
Giovanni Silva	1996–1999	108	28	Brazilian playmaker, 3 match-winners vs. Real Madrid
Jari Litmanen	1999/00	32	4	Finnish star, struggled with injuries
Rivaldo	2000–2002	235	130	Ballon d’Or 1999, hat-trick vs. Valencia (2000/01)
Juan Román Riquelme	2002/03	42	6	Argentina international and midfield maestro
Ronaldinho	2003–2008	207	94	Won 2005 Ballon d’Or. Brazil legend
Lionel Messi	2008–2021	778	672	10 La Liga titles, 4 UCLs. Greatest No. 10
Ansu Fati	2021–2023, 2024/25	112	29	Post-Messi No. 10, now on loan at Monaco
Lamine Yamal	2025/26	106	25	Stats till July 2025 (No. 19), set to wear No. 10