Ahead of the 2026 World Cup: Is the Back Number 10 an Angel?

JAKARTA - According to the poet Amien Kamil, who wrote his article in Langit Ke-7, from the results of pondering reading "Kitab Inting-Inting", as well as various ancient to modern works of art. Trying to say, that the figure of an angel is present, as a divine messenger, a protector of humans, and brings revelation.

From various versions, whether it is from various belief streams, to streams that do not know the creator. Angels are tasked with maintaining the balance between the universe, to the inner and soul realms.

Angels, are messengers of the almighty, who are still a mystery in the real world. In particular, on the green field, which is played by 22 players, for 90 minutes. Like or love, hate or miss, sue or compromise. The point is, football, which is already like a religion, turns out to resemble angels. If in ancient stories, his name is "saint".

"Since Pele wore the number 10, and made his name a national hero, I started to compete for the number 10. Whether it's at Tottenham, Barcelona or the England national team," said Gary Lineker, former striker of the England national team at the 1986 and 1990 World Cups.

At the World Cup, Mexico '86, Lineker was the top scorer, 6 goals, although England were humiliated by the crime of Maradona, also number 10, due to the "Hand of God goal."

It turns out that choosing the number 10 is not easy, especially in England. In fact, whether it has religious elements or by chance. In fact, Pele is lucky to be an eternal legend of the 20th century, because he wears the number 10.

In fact, when Jules Rimet - the 1970 World Cup, the Brazilian national team players, in fact, many of them use the number 10, when playing for their respective clubs.

Suppose Pele at Santos club number 10, Rivelino at Corienthians number 10, Tostao at Cruseiro number 10, and Gerson at Sao Paolo also number 10. However, when in the Brazilian national team, only Pele was awarded the number 10.

Last month, Toni Kross, one of the German core squad of 2014, when he won the World Cup title in Brazil, I think he is more mature in assessing the philosophy of the 90-minute game. "Football is about balance, chemistry, trust, and timing. Not because you use numbers 7, 8, 9 or 10."

In football, teamwork is the most important, rather than individual, especially about the number of backs. However, in the history of football, there is a very important part, especially to get the number 10.

Pele getting the number 10 was actually not his own choice, but the choice of his coach. In fact, his ballskill is more prominent than the number he wears, and history has recorded Pele with the number 10. In addition to having genius techniques and tactics, he is also blessed by "the angel."

In Brazil, the history of players using the number 10, after Pele never brought any luck. For example, Zico, nicknamed "White Pele", actually objected to the 10th anniversary, rather than achievements, although in the Samba Brazil team at that time, it was really extraordinary. The 2002 World Cup, the name of Juninho "Unyil" Paulista, was actually debated, because Mario Zagalo was chosen to use the number 10 in the Brazilian national team. Unfortunately, he was only a substitute player when he won the 2002 World Cup title in Japan-South Korea.

The French maestro, Michael Platini, is also considered lucky, after using the number 10. In 1984, Platini's name soared high. As a midfielder, he has first-class technique, skill and authority. Every opponent respects and fears him. When France won EURO '84, it was originally because of Platini, wearing the number 10 jersey. Whether it's blessed or lucky, what is certain is that Platini is charismatic.

In the Netherlands, the names of his maestros since Johan Cruijff have never used the number 10. Johan Cruijff prefers to wear the number 14, Neeskens wears the number 13. Maybe because no one wears the number 10, the Netherlands in the Cruijff era did not shine. Proof, when Ruud Gullit wore the number 10, the Oranje team won the EURO 1988.

Johan Cruyff can be called a "saint." The reason is that Cruyff's nature is to protect and nurture. Cruyff, the only player who died, is considered a savior of world football alias "saint". Beauty, ingenuity, genius, and as a beacon of his century-old legacy.

"Total Football" which is translated into the discipline of the "tiki-taka" tactics is second to none, in football, based on beauty, courtesy and civilized, When his teachings were passed down in Barcelona, it became the talk of modern football.

That, football is the most phenomenal, in the 20th century. It turns out, there is a character figure of a "magical child" named Diego Armando Maradona. His number is 10, his rank is captain, and his title is the 1986 World Cup. His rank, as the most sacred player in the 20th century.

He, is a person who is beyond the logic of every player in his time. Maradona's ballskill is very "palagan". Eight years earlier, Mario Kempes had inherited the "angel drops" given to Maradona, also with the number 10. There was a new nickname, when Maradona won the 1986 FIFA World Cup title, as a god as well as a criminal. Because he used his hands when scoring a goal.

Meanwhile, the player who is the most unlucky, uses the number 10, however, his team's achievements are "stuck" even though his character is great, maybe only belongs to Roberto Baggio.

He was really not blessed by the goddess of fortune or angels. In fact, Baggio is one of the most prominent Italian players of this decade. In fact, Baggio's role at Fiorentina, Juventus or AC Milan at that time, was very strong as a "maestro."

So, he was able to hypnotize all the players, to focus on Baggio. Too bad, Baggio was really unlucky and unlucky. Even though the number 10 is not his in Milan (Baggio is number 18) it is consistent.

Maybe you, the fans of the Italian Serie-A in the 90s, are very familiar with the term 'trequartista' or 'classic number 10'. For those who don't know 'trequartista', it is a term for players who are very brilliant in controlling the game behind two strikers or a single striker. That is, the number 10 player, has skills above average, with perfect control, his dribble is qualified. High instinct to score goals, as well as a hunger for goals if you are in the penalty area.

They, on average, use the number 10, like Roberto Baggio, Rui Costa, Ruud Gullit, Zinedine Zidane, Allesandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti. In La-Liga Spain, the number 10, not as a tradition, although there is the name Lionel Messi, who always uses the number, a legacy from Ronaldinho.

But, at Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia or Sevilla, the tradition of the number 10 is not important. Likewise, in the English Premier, even the number 7 is very legendary.

Either now, is there a great player with the number 10, able to hypnotize the cities in the 23rd FIFA World Cup, when it is held, from June 11 - July 19, 2026?

During the 2026 World Cup, there are 16 cities prepared by FIFA, to host 48 countries. Namely, Vancouver and Toronto (Canada), Monterrey, Guadalaraja and Mexico City (Mexico), and 11 in America, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Atalanta, Dallas, Houston and Miami.

Ahead of the biggest tournament in the world, the names of players with the number 10 are already registered for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held soon from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

Alexis Vega (Mexico, 10), Lee Jae-sung (South Korea, 10), Jamal Musiala (Germany, 10), Granit Xhaka (Switzerland, 10), Neymar Jr (Brazil, 10), Christian Pulisic (United States, 19), Ritsu Doan (Japan, 10), Benjamin Nygren (Sweden, 10), Kyllian Mbappe (France, 10), Martin Odegaard (Norway, 10), Lionel Messi (Argentina, 10), Brahim Diaz (Morocco, 10), Memphis Depay (Netherlands, 10), Leandro Trossard (Belgium, 10), Mohamed Salah (Egypt, 10), Dani Olmo (Spain, 10), Sadio Mane (Senegal, 10), Bernado Silva (Portugal, 10), Luka Modric (Croatia, 10), Jude Bellingham (England, 10).

Can they follow in the footsteps of the number 10 at the FIFA World Cup, as heroes, topskror, monsters, goal-hungry as the days of Pele, Maradona, Gary Lineker, Davor Suker, Hristo Stoichkov, Wesley Sneijder, and Jamez Rodriguez?

In fact, Just Fontaine, a 17-year-old, French striker, at the 1958 World Cup, scored 13 goals in one tournament, which has not been broken. Or, is there a number 8 like Sándor Kocsis, a Hungarian playmaker, at the 1954 World Cup, with 11 goals?

In the "now" era, there is one player, who has followed 4 rounds of the World Cup final, has collected 16 goals. However, his number 11, his name is Moroslav Klose, from Germany, has packed 16 goals, while strengthening Germany, 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014.

The FIFA World Cup always has new, dramatic stories, whether it's joy or sadness, as well as tragedy and luck. Maybe, no one has been able to be born again, as a "saint" like Johan Cruijff?

Miroslav Klose (Germany, number 11), 16 goals, 24 matches, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014.

Ronaldo (Brazil, number 9), 15 goals, 19 matches, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2005.

Gerd Muller (West Germany, number 13), 14 goals, 13 matches, 1970, 1974.

Just Fontaine (France, number 17), 13 goals, 6 matches, 1958).

Lionel Messi (Argentina, number 10), 13 goals, 26 matches, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022.

Pele (Brazil, number 10), 12 goals, 14 matches, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970.

Kylian Mbappe (France, number 10), 12 goals, 14 matches, 2018, 2022.

Sandors Kocsis (Hungary, number 8), 11 goals, 5 matches, 1954.

Jurgen Klinsmann (West Germany/Germany, number 18), 11 goals, 17 matches, 1990, 1994, 1998.

Helmut Rahn (West Germany, number 12), 10 goals, 10 matches, 1954, 1958.

Gary Lineker (England, number 10), 10 goals, 12 games, 1986, 1990.

Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina, number 9), 10 goals, 12 matches, 1994, 1998, 2002.

Teofilo Cubilas (Peru, number 10), 10 goals, 13 matches, 1970, 1974, 1982.

Thomas Muller (Germany, number 13), 10 goals, 19 matches, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022.

Grzegorz Lato (Poland, number 16), 10 goals, 20 matches, 1974, 1978, 1982.