10 Best Football Players To Wear The Number 23 Jersey

The number 23 jersey is an iconic shirt number that is often associated with legendary players. These players include David Beckham who wore the number 23 jersey during his time with Real Madrid and the LA Galaxy.

Best Footballers To Wear Number 23

• Robbie Fowler
• David Beckham
• Marco Materazzi
• Jamie Carragher
• Sol Campbell
• Marc-Vivien Foe
• Andrey Arshavin
• Carlo Cudicini
• Christian Eriksen
• Arturo Vidal

1. Robbie Fowler (Liverpool FC)

Robbie Fowler was a talented forward for Liverpool FC, having started his career with the club In 1991. He established himself as one of the best players to wear the number 23 jersey before changing to the number 9 jersey.

In no time, he made an Impression, scoring five goals in a single game during his debut season. Fowler formed a prolific partnership with Steve McManaman, contributing to Liverpool’s attacking prowess in the mid-’90s.

He won several accolades such as the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996. Fowler’s memorable moments include the fastest Premier League hat-trick until 2015 and a four-goal feat against Middlesbrough.

The ‘Spice Boys’ era brought off-field controversies, but Fowler’s on-field brilliance persisted. In the 2000-01 season, he was instrumental in Liverpool’s cup treble, winning the League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup. Despite success, his Liverpool journey saw a controversial departure in 2002.

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2. David Beckham ( Real Madrid, LA Galaxy)

David Beckham’s move to Real Madrid in 2003 was quite a saga. Initially, there was a buzz that he might join Barcelona, but a twist of fate led him to Real Madrid for €37 million.

This move shocked Barcelona’s newly elected president, who campaigned to sign Beckham. The transfer was completed in July 2003, making Beckham the third Englishman to join Real Madrid.

In a star-studded team, Beckham quickly adapted, scoring five goals in his first 16 matches. However, Real Madrid fell short of expectations that season, finishing fourth in the league and facing setbacks in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League.

Beckham’s time in Madrid saw managerial changes, with José Antonio Camacho’s short tenure followed by Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Despite Beckham’s efforts and finishing third in La Liga assists, Real Madrid couldn’t outpace Barcelona.

The summer of 2006 brought more changes, including Ramón Calderón becoming president. He was out of favor with coach Fabio Capello, and In January 2007, it was announced that Beckham would leave Madrid at the end of the season.

Beckham signed with the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer (MLS) and started playing in July 2007.  His arrival created a media frenzy, with reports suggesting a $250 million deal, but it was later clarified as a $32.5 million five-year contract.

His impact was felt off the field too, boosting Galaxy’s sponsorship deals and merchandise sales. Beckham’s debut in the MLS faced challenges, including an ankle injury, but he gradually made an impact, scoring his first goal in April 2008. Regardless of his contributions, the Galaxy had a disappointing season, missing the playoffs.

3. Marco Materazzi (AC Perugia, FC Internazionale, Chennaiyin FC)

Marco Materazzi joined Inter Milan in 2001 for €10 million. Wearing number 23, he had a memorable debut, scoring in his second game. Materazzi played an important role in the 2003-04 season but faced controversies, including an on-field clash and a suspension.

Under manager Roberto Mancini, Materazzi achieved domestic success, scoring crucial goals in the 2005-06 season. Despite injuries and challenges, he won three consecutive Serie A titles from 2006 to 2008.

The arrival of José Mourinho in 2008 saw Materazzi facing reduced playing time, but he remained a valuable player In the team. In the 2009-10 season, he played a part in Inter’s historic treble-winning campaign, clinching the Serie A, Coppa Italia, and UEFA Champions League.

Materazzi’s last season with Inter was in 2010-11, and he left the club in 2011 after not being offered a new contract. He retired and later accused the manager and president of his departure.

Materazzi then took on the role of ambassador for Inter. In a surprising move, he became the player-manager for Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League, leading them to the championship in the 2015 season.

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4. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC)

Jamie Carragher had a career-defining moment in the 2004-05 season when manager Rafael Benítez moved him to center-half. He was instrumental in Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League triumph. His star performance earned him the Liverpool Player of the Year Award.

In 2006, Carragher scored his first league goal in seven years. He set a new club record for European appearances in 2007 and was voted Liverpool’s Player of the Year for the third time in the 2006-07 season. Despite announcing his international retirement that season, Carragher extended his contract until 2011.

The 2007-08 season marked his 500th appearance for Liverpool, where he was made captain. However, Carragher faced some criticism in the following seasons, but a solid performance against Manchester United silenced doubters.

5. Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal FC, Portsmouth FC)

Sol Campbell is a solid defender known for his physicality, establishing himself as one of the best players to wear the number 23 jersey. He progressed through the Tottenham Hotspur youth ranks, captaining the team and winning the League Cup in 1999.

However, his relationship with managers soured, leading to disillusionment with the club. Campbell joined Arsenal in 2001, despite vowing never to play for them. He became a backbone in Arsenal’s defense, winning the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season.

The 2003-04 season, labeled ‘The Invincibles,’ saw Campbell play a crucial part as Arsenal clinched the Premier League unbeaten. In 2006, he scored in the UEFA Champions League final but left Arsenal for a ‘fresh challenge.’

Campbell then joined Portsmouth and captained the team in the 2008 FA Cup triumph. Despite financial struggles at Portsmouth, Campbell helped them avoid relegation. His time at Portsmouth provided a different experience, and he valued the connection during challenging times.

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6. Marc-Vivien Foe (Manchester City)

Marc-Vivien Foé was a Cameroonian midfielder, who faced challenges and triumphs in his football journey. Manchester United pursued him in 1998, but a broken leg dashed the deal.

Post-recovery, he joined West Ham United in 1999 for a record £4.2 million. After a brief stint, he moved to Lyon in 2000, winning titles but battling malaria. Foé returned to the English Premier League, loaned to Manchester City in 2002–03.

Despite a rocky start with a 3–0 loss, he became a mainstay, playing 38 of 41 matches. His first goal, against Sunderland in December 2002, marked the beginning of a prolific period with five more goals in the next month.

Notably, his second goal in April 2003 was the last at the iconic Maine Road stadium. Tragically, Foé’s journey took a heartbreaking turn. While representing Cameroon in the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, he collapsed on the field and passed away at age 28.

7. Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal FC, Zenit St. Petersburg)

Andrey Arshavin was an incredible player for Arsenal and Zenit St. Petersburg. He wore the iconic number 23 shirt at Arsenal. In April 2009, Arshavin’s magical four-goal performance against Liverpool at Anfield stood out, earning him the Premier League Player of the Month.

The 2009–10 season saw Arshavin scoring crucial goals, including a scissor kick against Wigan Athletic and a goal against Barcelona in the Champions League.

The 2012–13 season saw him reach 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal before leaving in June 2013. Arshavin returned to Zenit on loan with goals and assists, and later joined Kuban Krasnodar in 2015 before ending his contract in 2016.

8. Carlo Cudicini (Tottenham Hotspur)

Carlo Cudicini joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2009 as a free transfer due to his services at Chelsea. He made his debut in a 3-1 win against Stoke City, though his appearances were limited, especially after Tottenham’s loss in the League Cup final, for which he was cup-tied.

The 2009-10 season saw him back in action, but a serious motorcycle accident in November left him with fractured wrists and a pelvis injury. Despite the setback, he signed a new contract in May 2010.

The following season, Cudicini continued as a backup, playing in the 2012 FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea. In the 2012-13 season, he played his final game for Spurs in a League Cup tie against Carlisle United.

9. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham Hotspur)

Christian Eriksen was a key player for Tottenham Hotspur, having joined the club in 2013 from Ajax for £11 million. He made a memorable debut with an assist against Norwich City.

The 2013-14 campaign saw him record 10 goals and 13 assists, winning the Danish Football Player of the Year award. Under manager Mauricio Pochettino in 2014-15, Eriksen continued his impressive form.

He scored important goals, including a stunning free-kick against Sheffield United in the League Cup. Despite a loss in the final to Chelsea, Eriksen finished the season with 12 goals.

In the 2015-16 season, he won the Danish Footballer of the Year for the third consecutive time, contributing 6 goals and 13 assists as Tottenham secured a Champions League spot.

Eriksen signed a new contract In 2017, helped Tottenham finish as Premier League runners-up, and won the club’s Player of the Season. He set a Danish record with 33 Premier League goals, surpassing Nicklas Bendtner. His noteworthy moments included scoring in 11 seconds against Manchester United and a brace against Stoke City.

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10. Arturo Vidal (Bayern 04 Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, CSD Colo-Colo)

Arturo Vidal’s European journey began with Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga before he sealed a move to Juventus in 2011, where he earned a reputation as one of the world’s best midfielders.

During his time with Juventus, Vidal secured Scudetti in all four seasons and was instrumental in their 2015 UEFA Champions League final appearance.

In 2015, Vidal made a Bundesliga return, joining Bayern Munich and clinching three consecutive league titles. Then he moved to Barcelona, where he added another league title to his impressive collection.

In 2020, Vidal secured a move to Inter Milan, winning both the Serie A title and Coppa Italia. His versatile and tenacious playing style contributed significantly to these triumphs.