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The number 13 usually stirs people’s emotions. It is mainly associated with bad luck. The superstitious would not want anything to do with the number. In soccer, clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool have retired the number from their kit for this same reason. But not everyone thinks like this. Some players don’t mind shining in their number 13.
This article looks at soccer players with the number 13, who have gone against superstition and created a different story for the number. We’ll look into the following:
- Club career
- International career
- Awards and Accolades
Read on and get to know the soccer players with the number 13 who represented the number well on the pitch.
The Best Soccer Players Who Wore Number 13
Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack is a former German soccer player among the top German goal scorers. Ballack donned the number 13 shirt for all teams except FC Kaiserslautern. On the field, he was physically strong, aggressive, and commanding. In addition, he was tall, which made him a threat during set-pieces. But his powerful shots from either foot didn’t spare the opponents either.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: September 26, 1976
- Nationality: German
- Teams Played for:
- Chemnitzer FC: 1995-1997
- FC Kaiserslautern: 1997-1999
- Bayer Leverkusen: 1999-2002
- Bayern Munich: 2002-2006
- Chelsea: 2006-2010
- Bayer Leverkusen: 2010-2012
- Positions Played: Central Midfielder, Defensive Midfielder
- Trophies Won:
- German Champion: 3 times with Bayern Munich
- English Champion: 1 time with Chelsea
- German Cup: 3 times with Bayern Munich
- English FA Cup: 3 times with Chelsea
- English League Cup: 1 time with Chelsea
- UEFA Champions League: 1 time with Bayern Munich
- UEFA Super Cup: 2 times with Bayern Munich
- FIFA World Cup: 1 time with Germany
- Other Significant Achievements:
- German Footballer of the Year: 3 times (2002, 2003, 2005)
His intelligence and high technique made him German’s Player of the Year thrice, the UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year, and Pele named him in FIFA’s 100 Greatest Living Players.
- Ballack was featured in the UEFA European Football Championship in 2002, 2004, and 2008.
- He also played in the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006.
- He started his career at Fritz Heckert and swiftly moved to FC Kaiserslautern, winning the Bundesliga in his first season. In 1999, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen.
- He was shy of several titles, like the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal, UEFA Champions League, and settled for runners-up.
- Even in his international cap, Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.
His transfer to Bayern Munich saw him win the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal doubles in 2003, 2005, and 2006. After 58 goals at Bayern Munich, he moved to Chelsea. He kept his winning streak at Chelsea, winning the FA Cup, the league title, and reaching the Champions League final.
Maicon
Nicknamed ‘The Colossus,’ Maicon is a gifted Brazilian soccer player. He currently plays for Tre Penne as a right-back. His career started with a domestic team, Cruzeiro. The Ligue I club, Monaco, took notice of him on the 125th occasion. Two years in Monaco saw him move to Inter Milan, becoming a household name.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: July 26, 1981
- Nationality: Brazilian
- Teams Played for:
- Cruzeiro (1999-2004)
- AS Monaco (2004-2006)
- Inter Milan (2006-2012)
- Manchester City (2012-2013)
- AS Roma (2013-2016)
- Positions Played: Right-back
- Trophies Won:
- Serie A: 4 times with Inter Milan
- Coppa Italia: 4 times with Inter Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana: 3 times with Inter Milan
- UEFA Champions League: 1 time with Inter Milan
- Other Significant Achievements:
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2010
- Samba d’Or: 2010
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2003
- Inter Milan Hall of Fame: 2023
At Inter Milan, his athleticism and excellent technical skills shone. He proved a formidable player who could be deployed offensively and defensively. He can serve as a full-back, attacking wing-back, or wide midfielder. In addition, his excellent vision, fantastic crossing ability, and powerful shot made him dangerous on the right flank.
After Milan, he moved to Manchester City, then Roma, and returned home to Brazil and played for Avai, Criciuma, Villa Nova, Sona, and now Tre Penne.
- Maicon represented Brazil on 76 occasions, scoring seven goals.
- He represented Brazil in the CONCACAF Gold Cup
- Three Copa America tournaments, two FIFA World Cups
- FIFA Confederations Cup
Eusebio
Regarded as Africa’s first greatest soccer player and possibly Africa’s best soccer player in history, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira was a Mozambican-born Portuguese soccer player. He is also considered among the best soccer players of all time.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: January 25, 1942
- Nationality: Portuguese
- Teams Played for and Years:
- Sporting Lourenço Marques (1957-1960)
- Benfica (1961-1975)
- Boston Minutemen (1975)
- Monterrey (1975)
- Toronto Metros-Croatia (1975-1976)
- Beira-Mar (1976)
- Las Vegas Quicksilvers (1976-1977)
- União de Tomar (1977-1978)
- New Jersey Americans (1978-1979)
- Buffalo Stallions (1979-1980)
- Positions Played: Striker
- Trophies Won:
- Primeira Liga (Portuguese League): 11 times with Benfica
- Taca de Portugal (Portuguese Cup): 5 times with Benfica
- European Cup: 1 time with Benfica
- Other Significant Achievements:
- European Footballer of the Year: 1965
- FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1966
- FIFA World Cup Bronze Boot: 1966
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1966
- Ballon d’Or: 1965
- FIFA World Cup Third Place: 1966
He spent most of his career in Benfica. In his career, out of 745 games, he scored 733 goals. For Portugal, he played 64 games and scored 41 times. His devastating right-foot shot made him very lethal on the field. Coupled with his athleticism, technique, and speed, he stands on top of the mountain of legends to ever grace the soccer game.
The numerous honors and awards he received and the aliases people gave him attest to his legendary status. For example, he was called the Black Panther, the Black Pearl, or Reo (the King). The prolific goal scorer was the top in the 1966 World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball Award and helping Portugal get to third place. A year prior, he had won the Ballon d’Or, where he was runner-up in 1962 and would be runner-up again the same World Cup year.
While he dedicated 15 years of his professional career to Benfica, he won eleven Primera Liga titles, five Taca de Portugal, and a European Cup. He is still Benfica’s top scorer of all time out of 440 games. He scored 473 goals. Eusebio is the eighth-highest goal scorer in the European Cup and second-highest in the pre-Champions League era.
Furthermore, Eusebio was the first player to win the European Golden Boot. Moreover, he won the Bola de Prata a record seven times.
- His legacy in Portuguese soccer and the world, in general, is recognized.
- He has been voted among the best players in the world in different polls.
- IFFHS, where he was the 9th best soccer player of the 20th century.
- World Soccer magazine poll, where he was the 10th best soccer player of the 20th century.
- UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, he was 7th.
- The Portuguese Football Federation selected him as the Golden Player of Portugal during UEFA’s Jubilee.
Park Ji-Sung
Park Ji-sung, aka Three Lungs, is a former South Korean soccer player and one of the most successful Asian soccer players ever. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Park started his career playing for a university team, Myongji University. He then moved to Japan and joined Kyoto Purple Sanga. He then crossed to Europe into the Netherlands and joined PSV Eindhoven.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: February 25, 1981
- Nationality: South Korean
- Teams Played for and Years:
- Myongji University (1999-2000)
- Kyoto Purple Sanga (2000-2003)
- PSV Eindhoven (2003-2005)
- Manchester United (2005-2012)
- Queens Park Rangers (2012-2014)
- Positions Played: Midfielder
- Trophies Won:
- Premier League: 4 times with Manchester United
- UEFA Champions League: 1 time with Manchester United
- Dutch Eredivisie: 2 times with PSV Eindhoven
- Other Significant Achievements:
- AFC Asian Cup: 1 time (2011)
- FIFA Club World Cup: 1 time (2008)
- FIFA U-20 World Cup: 1 time (2001)
Right off the gates, Park has set several Asian soccer records:
- The first Asian soccer player to lead his team to win the UEFA Champions League
- The first Asian soccer player in the UEFA Champions League finals
- The first Asian to lead a victory in the FIFA Club World Cup
Sir Alex Ferguson took notice of Park during the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League and signed him for English Premier League club Manchester United. Park played for Manchester United for seven years, appearing 134 times and scoring 19 goals. His ability to play from anywhere in the midfield made him stand out.
In addition, his phenomenal fitness, discipline, work ethic, and out-of-this-world endurance earned him the nickname ‘Three-Lungs.’ He won four Premier League titles at Manchester United, the UEFA Champions League, and the FIFA Club World Cup. Later, in 2012, he moved to Queens Park Ranger and later rejoined PSV on loan for the 2013–14 season.
Park further earned 100 caps for his country and scored 13 goals. He is South Korea’s leading World Cup top scorer, having scored in the three consecutive World Cups he has represented his country in 2002, 2006,
Alessandro Nesta
Alessandro Nesta, born on March 19, 1976, in Rome, Italy, is widely regarded as one of the finest defenders of his generation. His career began at Lazio, where he emerged from the youth ranks to become a mainstay in the team’s defense.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: March 19, 1976
- Nationality: Italian
- Teams Played for and Years:
- Lazio (1993-2002)
- AC Milan (2002-2012)
- Montreal Impact (2012-2013)
- Positions Played: Center-back
- Trophies Won:
- Serie A: 2 times with AC Milan
- Coppa Italia: 3 times with Lazio, 1 time with AC Milan
- Supercoppa Italiana: 4 times with Lazio, 1 time with AC Milan
- UEFA Champions League: 2 times with AC Milan
- UEFA Super Cup: 2 times with Lazio, 1 time with AC Milan
- FIFA Club World Cup: 1 time with AC Milan
- Other Significant Achievements:
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2000
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2006
- Serie A Defender of the Year: 4 times
- UEFA Team of the Year: 4 times
Nesta’s playing style was characterized by his exceptional reading of the game, elegant tackling, and composure under pressure, which set him apart as a world-class center-back. He captained Lazio to their Serie A title in the 1999-2000 season, a testament to his leadership and defensive prowess.
In 2002, Nesta transferred to AC Milan, where he excelled at the highest level. At Milan, he formed a formidable defensive partnership with Paolo Maldini, contributing significantly to the team’s domestic and international successes, including two UEFA Champions League titles in 2003 and 2007.
Nesta’s contributions to the Italian national team, with whom he won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, were also notable in his career. Despite struggling with injuries in the latter part of his career, Nesta’s legacy as a technically gifted and intelligent defender remains firmly established.
Atiba Hutchinson
Atiba Hutchinson, born on February 8, 1983, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, is renowned for his versatility and consistency on the soccer field. Hutchinson’s career has seen him play across various European leagues, bringing a high level of performance to each team he’s been part of.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: February 8, 1983
- Nationality: Canadian
- Teams Played for and Years:
- York Region Shooters (2002)
- Toronto Lynx (2002-2003)
- Östers IF (2003-2004)
- Helsingborgs IF (2004-2006)
- FC Copenhagen (2006-2010)
- PSV Eindhoven (2010-2013)
- Beşiktaş (2013-2023)
- Positions Played: Midfielder
- Trophies Won:
- Danish Superliga: 3 times with FC Copenhagen
- Dutch Eredivisie: 1 time with PSV Eindhoven
- Turkish Super Lig: 3 times with Beşiktaş
- Other Significant Achievements:
- Danish Superliga Player of the Year: 2009-2010
- Canadian Player of the Year: 8 times (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2021)
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2011, 2013, 2015
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Champion: 2002, 2017, 2019
He started his European journey with Östers IF in Sweden before moving to Helsingborgs IF, where he began to make a name for himself in European soccer. Hutchinson’s most notable stint has been with Beşiktaş in the Turkish Süper Lig, where he became a key player due to his ability to play multiple positions effectively, including midfield and right-back.
Several league titles have marked his time at Beşiktaş, cementing his status as a fan favorite and a highly respected player. Internationally, Hutchinson has been a cornerstone of the Canadian national team, known for his leadership and resilience. His longevity and high level of play have made him one of Canada’s most outstanding soccer exports, admired for his work ethic and adaptability on the field.
Davide Astori
David Astori is an Italian soccer player who met an untimely death in a hotel room before a league match. After investigations, the cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest.
Stats:
- Date of Birth: January 7, 1987
- Nationality: Italian
- Teams Played for and Years:
- AC Milan (2006-2008)
- → Pizzighettone (loan) (2006-2007)
- → Cremonese (loan) (2007-2008)
- Cagliari (2008-2016)
- → Roma (loan) (2014-2015)
- → Fiorentina (loan) (2015-2016)
- Fiorentina (2016-2018)
- Positions Played: Centre-back
- Trophies Won:
- No specific information found in the provided sources.
- Other Significant Achievements:
- Astori made his international debut for Italy in 2011 and represented his country on 14 occasions, scoring one goal, which came in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup third place play-off, where he won a bronze medal.
- Personal Life:
- Astori was known for his leadership qualities and was named the captain of Fiorentina in 2017.
Astori had played his youth career at Pontisola and AC Milan. His professional career started on loan, with AC Milan loaning him to Pizzighettone and Cremonese in the first two seasons of his senior career.
- In 2008, he signed a deal co-owned by AC Milan and Cagliari, who bought him entirely from Milan.
- He would later spend two more loan spells with Roma and Fiorentina
- before Fiorentina signed him in 2016 and made him captain in 2017
He received 14 international caps for Italy and managed to score one goal.
This group indicates that despite superstitions against the number 13, some of soccer’s best have worn it. From Italian heroes to present stars, number 13s brought bad luck to opponents with their talents and championship efforts. Each made their mark on the game and their eras by scoring goals, anchoring midfields, or marshaling defenses. They showed that metrics don’t define these guys’ brilliance on the pitch.
As soccer becomes more global, jersey number superstitions may change or disappear in different countries. However, those who chose 13, will inspire future generations with their accomplishments, skills, and personalities.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
