This is a list of the best soccer players who wore the number 18 jersey.
Jersey numbers in soccer are indicators of different players in different positions. The numbers were once solely based on the position of a player on the field.
So, the goalkeeper would wear the number 1, and the farthest player down the pitch would wear the number 11.
But recently, this trend has changed. Now players can choose numbers according to their preferences.
That’s why jersey numbers like 18 have become common in soccer. A lot of great modern-day legends have worn the jersey number 18.
On this list, you’ll find players like:
- Paul Scholes,
- Jordi Alba,
- Dirk Kuyt,
- Gareth Barry,
- and more!
So let’s look at the greatest players with the number 18 jersey in soccer.
Criteria for Selection in this List
Before starting, let’s look at the criteria for the list.
Players must tick these criteria while wearing the number 18 jersey to be included in the list.
- Consistent level of excellence
- Influence on Position
- Association with Game-Changing Moments
- Legacy and Recognition
- Contribution to Team Success
- Recognition by Peers and Experts
- Cultural Impact
Despite thorough research, I might miss a few number 18 soccer players.
Let me know if I’ve missed any of your favorites in the comments.
Top 10 Soccer Players Who Wore The Number 18 Jersey
10. Ashley Young
Ashley Young wore number 18 for:
- Manchester United
- Aston Villa
- Everton FC
- England
Young could be on this list for his curving shots alone. But he was also a player ready to give it all for his teams.
The biggest example was Young transitioning from a winger to a full-back for the team.
Ashley Young arrived at Manchester United in 2011 as a winger. He played a key role in their 2013 Premier League title win under Sir Alex Ferguson.
But after Ferguson’s retirement, Young had to adapt to a new position at left-back under the new managers.
In 2019, Young became the captain of United. He captained the team for 1 year before moving to Inter Milan in 2020.
9. Gareth Barry
Gareth Barry wore number 18 for:
- Manchester City
- Everton FC
- West Bromwich Albion
Barry is one of the unsung heroes of the Premier League era.
He helped great teams, like the 2011 Manchester City, function smoothly on the pitch. While stars like Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure grabbed headlines, Barry was a crucial cog in the team.
He provided a calming presence, excellent passing range, and defensive solidity in midfield.
Gareth Barry also holds the record for most appearances in the Premier League (653 apps). He’s been around for more than two decades.
In the latter stages of his career, Barry joined West Bromwich Albion. He played at the club for 3 seasons before retiring in 2020.
8. Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt wore number 18 for:
- Liverpool FC
Next up on the list is the “Big-game player”, Dirk Kuyt. He had a knack for scoring crucial goals in important matches.
Some of his goals included last-minute winners against Manchester City and Standard Liege. A hat-trick against the fierce rivals Manchester United.
He also scored a vital goal in the 2012 League Cup final which secured the only trophy he won at Liverpool.
Then, Kuyt had an incredible work rate and tireless pressing stamina. He embodied the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude that Liverpool fans admire.
He wasn’t the flashiest player, but his passion for the club made him a fan favorite at Anfield.
7. Jermain Defoe
Jermain Defoe wore number 18 for:
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Toronto FC
- Sunderland AFC
- AFC Bournemouth
Defoe was a goal-scoring great of England. He went through several clubs during his career, but he’s still loved at most of them.
Jermain got his first big move to Tottenham in 2004. Here, he became the club’s 6th all-time top scorer in the Premier League with 90 goals.
His pace, movement, and finishing ability made him a constant threat in front of goal.
Defoe was also a cup specialist. He helped Spurs reach two League Cup finals with his goals. Unfortunately, they couldn’t win either of the finals.
Then at the latter stage of his career, Defoe moved to Sunderland and became their saviour. He became a cult hero at the club, particularly in the 2015-16 season.
The biggest moment came when he led them to Premier League survival on the final day of the season with a dramatic winning goal against Chelsea.
6. Miroslav Klose
Miroslav Klose wore number 18 for:
- Bayern Munich
Since it’s all about the player’s time in the number 18 jersey, Klose couldn’t be higher up on this list.
Klose joined Bayern Munich at the tail-end of his career.
So his time at the club was a hit-and-miss affair. He didn’t always start for Bayern despite his reputation with the German team.
Klose also faced several injury challenges which further reduced his playing time for the Bavarians.
But that didn’t stop him from scoring goals. He scored 53 goals in 150 appearances for the club.
Klose also played a key part in Bayern’s 2007-2008 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double win.
5. Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud wore number 18 for:
- Chelsea FC
Many Chelsea fans questioned the club’s decision to sign Olivier Giroud in 2018. It seemed like he was at the end of his career.
But Giroud proved to be a vital player for the team, especially in their European campaigns.
Giroud wasn’t always a starter for Chelsea, but he thrived in the role of an impact player coming off the bench.
His aerial presence, strength, and hold-up play were also valuable assets for the team.
The thing that made the fans and his teammates adore him was Giroud’s ability to create chances for others. He was an unselfish striker who was always looking for his teammates if they had an easier chance to score.
But that doesn’t mean Giroud wasn’t a prolific goal-scorer. He was the top scorer in Chelsea’s 2019 Europa League campaign.
4. Jordi Alba
Jordi Alba wore number 18 for:
Many soccer fans consider Alba to be one of the best left-backs of his generation. And they have a point.
Jordi Alba had a legendary career at Barcelona while wearing the number 18. He caught the eye of the big clubs during the 2012 Euros campaign with Spain.
And Barcelona were the first to pounce on his signature.
Alba played a key role in Barcelona’s golden era under Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
He was part of a team that won
- six La Liga titles,
- a Champions League,
- five Copa del Rey titles, and
- four Supercopa de España titles.
After a decade at Barcelona, Alba moved to Inter Miami to reunite with Messi, Suarez, and Busquets.
Alba’s arrival brings a decorated European player to a relatively young MLS franchise. His experience and winning mentality can be invaluable for the team’s development.
3. Jurgen Klinsmann
Jurgen Klinsmann wore number 18 for:
- Tottenham Hotspur
- Bayern Munich
- UC Sampdoria
- Germany
Klinsmann was a goal machine and a leader on the pitch.
In 1994, he arrived at a struggling Tottenham and became an instant fan favorite. He scored 20 goals in 41 appearances in his first season to help Spurs avoid relegation.
Just a year later in 1995, Klinsmann moved to Bayern. At Bayern, he was their top scorer for two seasons in a row.
He also held the record for most goals scored (15) in a single UEFA Cup campaign until 2011.
His goals were key in Bayern’s 1995-96 UEFA Cup win and the 1997 Bundesliga title.
But then in 1997, Klinsmann again moved to UC Sampdoria. He would remain at the club for just 6 months due to disagreements with the coach.
Klinsmann was also a key part of Germany’s success. He could motivate the whole team with his infectious passion and fighting.
He became an iconic captain for the team as he led them to victory in the 1996 European Championship.
Klinsmann was also a part of the 1990 World Cup winning team.
2. Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio wore number 18 for:
- AC Milan
- Italy
Baggio would be at the top of this list if we were talking about pure talent. But we’re not.
So he had to take the penultimate spot on this list of the best players with the number 18 jersey in soccer.
While his tenure at AC Milan was only two seasons, Baggio’s impact was undeniable.
Baggio played a supporting role in their 1995-96 Serie A title win. He even scored a crucial penalty against his former club Fiorentina.
Despite the efforts, his time at Milan was overshadowed by the presence of other stars like George Weah.
He didn’t always get the starting nod, which frustrated both him and the fans who adored his talent.
But it was a different case with Italy. For the national team, Baggio was nothing short of a legend.
In fact, he’s one of the best Italian players ever.
Though, he played wearing the number 18 jersey for Italy for a short time. For the majority of his international career, Baggio wore the number 10 jersey.
1. Paul Scholes
Paul Scholes wore number 18 for:
- Manchester United
Scholes has earned his place as the greatest player to wear the number 18 jersey.
His importance to Manchester United and soccer can’t be overstated.
Scholes is a legend at United, spending his entire career at the club. He was a key player in their most successful period, winning
- 11 Premier League titles,
- 2 Champions League trophies, and
- many other domestic cups.
Scholes was also a big-game player. His composure and ability to perform under pressure made him a true winner.
Who can forget that screamer he scored against Barcelona in 2008 to take United to the UCL final?
Furthermore, Scholes was a complete midfielder. He possessed exceptional passing range, vision, and technique. This allowed him to dictate play and create chances for his teammates.
His ability to switch between roles seamlessly made him an invaluable asset for the team.
Honorable Mentions
I couldn’t include every great soccer player with the number 18 jersey in the top 10.
So here are some great players with number 18 who just missed out on the list.
- Bruno Fernandes. Wore number 18 for Manchester United for the first two years.
- Nicolo Barella. Wore number 18 for Cagliari Calcio and Italy.
- Aurélien Tchouaméni. Wears number 18 for Real Madrid.
- Rúben Neves. Wears number 18 for Portugal.
- Nacho Monreal. Wore number 18 for Arsenal FC.
Thank You For Reading
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I’d also like to hear what you have to say…
Who’s the greatest soccer player to wear the number 18 jersey?
Which player would you have included in the top 10 that’s not in there?
Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below right now!
And thank you for supporting Soccer Mavericks!
If you liked this article, check out other lists in this series:
- Best Soccer Players With The Number 2 Jersey
- Best Soccer Players With Number 3 Jersey (All-Time List)
- Best Soccer Players Who Wear Number 4
- Best Soccer Players Who Wore The Number 5 Jersey
- Best Soccer Players Who Wore the Number 6 Jersey (All Time List)
- Greatest Number 11 Players in Soccer
- Best Soccer Players Who Wore the Number 12
- Best Soccer Players With Number 13 Jersey
- Best Soccer Players Who Wore the Number 14 Jersey
- Best Soccer Players Who Have Worn Number 15
- Best Soccer Players With Number 16 Jersey (Ranked)
- Top 17 Soccer Players Who Wear The Number 17 Jersey
