20 Greatest False Nines in Football History – Ranked

July 4, 2025 Oliver Obel

In football's long and tactical evolution, the false nine has emerged as one of the most intelligent and creative roles. Unlike traditional strikers, these players drop deeper, create space, and dictate tempo — often redefining how goals are scored and games are won. Here, we count down the 20 greatest masters of the false nine role, starting from number 20.

20. Eric Cantona

Cantona was more than a striker — he was the mind behind Manchester United's attack in the early Premier League years. Often operating between the midfield and forward lines, his flair, leadership, and unpredictability disrupted defences and inspired a generation of technical forwards.

19. Paulo Dybala

Dybala’s ability to drift into space, turn quickly, and deliver key passes made him a natural false nine when asked to fill that role. He seamlessly blended scoring and playmaking, particularly in Juventus' transitional post-Tevez and pre-Vlahović era.

18. Eden Hazard

Though primarily a winger, Hazard often played centrally under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea, where his dribbling and vision mimicked the false nine archetype. He was excellent at drawing defenders out and creating chaos in attacking transitions.

17. Carlos Tevez

Tevez was a relentless force — energetic, technical, and intelligent. At both Manchester City and Juventus, he was used in a withdrawn role, dropping deep to link play and still deliver decisive goals with trademark intensity.

16. Roberto Firmino

The cornerstone of Liverpool’s title-winning front three, Firmino was the glue who connected everything. His pressing, creativity, and deep positioning created space for Salah and Mané, making him one of the most effective modern false nines.

15. Cesc Fàbregas

Cesc Fabregas — Rui Alexandre Araujo / Shutterstock.com

Fàbregas was deployed as a false nine under Pep Guardiola when Barcelona sought a midfield overload. Though it was a temporary solution, his vision, intelligence, and ability to unbalance defences left a tactical mark.

14. Michael Laudrup

Laudrup’s graceful play between midfield and attack defined the essence of a false nine. A master of the final ball, he destabilized defences with subtlety and elegance rather than brute force.

13. Raúl González

Raúl thrived in a role between striker and attacking midfielder at Real Madrid, linking play with clever movement and exquisite finishing. He set the standard for deep-lying strikers long before the term “false nine” gained popularity.

12. Mesut Özil

Known for his vision, timing, and subtlety, Özil occasionally stepped into a false nine role during his time at Arsenal and with Germany. Though traditionally a number 10, his ability to find space and deliver precision passes underlined the cerebral side of false nine play.

ore when it mattered most made him the prototype of the creative false nine before the role was named.

11. Matthias Sindelar

Nicknamed "The Mozart of Football," Sindelar was one of the earliest adopters of a deeper forward role. In Austria’s legendary Wunderteam, he pulled defenders out of position and orchestrated attacks with finesse.

10. Francesco Totti

When Luciano Spalletti used Totti as a false nine in 2006, it changed the course of Roma’s attack. Totti thrived in this position, winning the European Golden Boot and proving that intelligence could overcome age and speed.

9. Roberto Baggio

A true “nine and a half,” Baggio was never just a forward. His ability to drop deep, create magic, and sc

8. Thomas Müller

Müller coined his own position — the Raumdeuter or “space interpreter” — and became synonymous with tactical intelligence. Often deployed in central roles without leading the line, his ghosting movements disrupted every defensive line he faced.

7. Antoine Griezmann

For France and Atletico Madrid, Griezmann thrived playing off a central striker or as the deepest attacker. His work rate, tactical discipline, and creativity made him a lethal and selfless false nine.

6. Dennis Bergkamp

Behind Thierry Henry in Arsenal’s golden era, Bergkamp defined elegance and precision. A natural false nine, he was the vital link between midfield and attack, turning vision into art with each touch.

5. Alessandro Del Piero

Del Piero’s early explosiveness and later technical maturity allowed him to excel in deeper attacking roles. Whether before or after injury, he consistently balanced scoring with crafting chances — a hallmark of the false nine.

4. Wayne Rooney

Rooney’s adaptability allowed him to shine in multiple roles, but his playmaking from deep as a false nine stood out. He partnered strikers, orchestrated attacks, and aged into a deeper role without ever losing his edge.

3. Karim Benzema

Benzema spent years facilitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance by dropping deep and linking play. Once Ronaldo departed, Benzema stepped into the limelight, proving he could be both a creator and a finisher — the ideal false nine.

2. Johan Cruyff

Cruyff was the revolutionary force behind the false nine's modern application, particularly under Rinus Michels. His intelligence, positional play, and flair laid the foundation for a generation of tactically flexible forwards.

1. Lionel Messi

Under Guardiola, Messi reinvented the false nine — drifting centrally, dictating play, and scoring in volumes. With his low center of gravity, vision, and unrivaled composure, he didn’t just master the role; he redefined it forever.