10 Soccer Players Who Have Worn The Number 23 Jersey

Soccer fans rarely associate the number 23 with popular players in the sport. In fact, this number is usually reserved for the third-choice goalkeeper in international tournaments, since two complete 11-man squads fill the remaining 22 spots. But make no mistake – there are some truly impressive athletes who have made the number 23 an iconic jersey in the world of soccer.

Here’s my list of 10 soccer players who have proudly sported the number 23 jersey:

1. David Beckham
2. Jamie Carragher
3. Luis Diaz
4. Ferland Mendy
5. Luke Shaw
6. Jules Koundé
7. Nicolò Barella
8. Conor Gallagher
9. Albert Sambi Lokonga
10. Fikayo Tomori

Each of these players has made a significant impact in the world of soccer, whether it’s through their exceptional goal-scoring abilities or unwavering defensive leadership. In this article, I’ll dive deeper into why the number 23 holds such importance to these players and how they’ve made an indelible mark on the game. So, let’s kick off!

Table of Contents

• 1 David Beckham
• 2 Jamie Carragher
• 3 Luis Diaz
• 4 Ferland Mendy
• 5 Luke Shaw
• 6 Jules Koundé
• 7 Nicolò Barella
• 8 Conor Gallagher
• 9 Albert Sambi Lokonga
• 10 Fikayo Tomori

1 David Beckham

It was in 2003 that the number 23 skyrocketed to fame in the world of soccer. And that was when David Beckham chose it as his jersey number when he moved to Real Madrid. The reason – his love for basketball legend Michael Jordan (and also in part due to the fact that his favored number 7 was already taken up by club captain Raúl).

I’m sure I don’t need to go at length about Beckham. He was an unstoppable force in the midfield, impressing with his crossing and free-kick abilities. He won numerous trophies with Manchester United, Real Madrid, and LA Galaxy, as well as captaining England for six years.

Throughout his career, Beckham has cemented himself as one of the greats – both on and off the pitch. He is easily one of the most recognizable figures in sports and a global ambassador for soccer. He has inspired generations of players, making him an essential part of the number 23 jersey’s legacy.

Fun Fact: David Beckham was the first English player to win league titles in four countries – England, Spain, France, and the United States.

2 Jamie Carragher

Another English legend who wore the number 23 jersey is Jamie Carragher. He was a cornerstone for the Liverpool backline for 17 years, making over 700 appearances for The Reds in all competitions. He was also the vice-captain of the club for 10 years, along with being the second longest-serving player for the team.

Carragher was known for his tireless work rate, defensive awareness, and leadership qualities. Although he started out as a full-back, he transitioned to a central defender later in his career and forged a formidable partnership with Sami Hyypia.

Carragher won a number of trophies with Liverpool, including 2 FA Cups, 1 UEFA Cup, and 1 Champions League, among many others. After retiring from football in 2013, he went on to become an integral part of Sky Sports’ team of pundits and analysts.

3 Luis Diaz

Let me take a break from talking about English players and shift my focus to a South American one (although he does play for Liverpool, go figure!). One of the youngest and greatest players to wear the number 23 in recent years is Colombian forward Luis Diaz.

A right-footed left-winger, Diaz is famous for his stunning goal scoring abilities, with many of his goals coming from long-range strikes or acrobatic finishes. And when I say acrobatic finishes, I really mean it – Diaz is a master at using his body to execute some truly audacious shots! Check out his crazy goals below.

As part of the Colombian national team since 2018, Diaz has already earned over 30 caps and has scored 37 goals so far. It seems that there’s no limit to what this young talent can achieve!

Did you know: Luis Diaz was jointly awarded the Golden Boot at the 2019 Copa América, tying with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. He was instrumental in getting his team to third place in the tournament.

4 Ferland Mendy

Another recent addition to the number 23 jersey club is Frenchman Ferland Mendy. He currently plays for Spanish giants Real Madrid, who he joined in 2019 from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais.

Mendy is an attacking full-back and his playing style is comparable to that of David Alaba or Marcelo Vieira. If you’ve watched him play, you’ll know how adept he’s at making overlapping runs and creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.

Mendy’s been an integral part of the Madrid squad since he joined them, appearing in over 87 games for them and helping them to win the 2019–20 La Liga. He also scored Madrid’s only goal against Atalanta in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League round of 16.

5 Luke Shaw

Forgive me for taking you back to yet another English player; this time, it’s Manchester United’s Luke Shaw. This number 23 jersey donning defender has been at the club for nine years now and is finally starting to show his true potential after a few injury-plagued seasons.

Often compared to the Welsh legend Gareth Bale (who was also a product of the Southampton youth system, just like Shaw), Luke is a great asset for United. He’s a left-footed defender with an attacking mindset and loves taking the ball forward. His pace and dribbling ability make him a nightmare for any full-back.

Shaw has been part of the United squad since 2014 and has been getting better with each passing season. In fact, he was the Manchester United Players’ Player of the Year in the 2020-21 season. I see great things in store for this player!

6 Jules Koundé

Let me move away from the Premier League for a bit and focus on the number 23’s of Spanish football. Jules Koundé is a 24-year-old central defender who currently plays for La Liga club FC Barcelona.

Koundé is a powerful centre-back, who excels at aerial duels and making last-ditch tackles. He began his journey at the Ligue 2 French club Bordeaux, before moving to Seville in the summer of 2019. He was then snapped up by Barcelona for a fee of €55 million.

Koundé also plays for the France national team where he has made 18 appearances so far and is expected to be a regular starter in the future.

7 Nicolò Barella

The word ‘elegance’ is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this Italian maestro. Currently playing the number 23 jersey at Inter Milan, Nicolò Barella is one of the most exciting midfielders in Italy at the moment (and perhaps even the whole of Europe!).

Barella is a box-to-box midfielder who is never afraid to put in a tackle and make an interception. He’s also great at taking the ball forward and creating chances for his teammates. His passing ability is second to none and often compared to that of French superstar N’Golo Kanté.

If you want to see just how amazing Barella’s technical elegance is, watch some of his highlight reels right below.

8 Conor Gallagher

Yet another young English talent (all Beckham’s fault) who wears the number 23 jersey is Conor Gallagher. He currently plays for Premier League club Chelsea, but he’s had loan spells at various clubs such as Charlton Athletic, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace.

Gallagher is a central midfielder who’s also comfortable playing in an attacking role. He’s been praised for his immense work-rate and his ability to pick out a pass from any angle. His style of play has even been compared to that of Chelsea’s greatest Frank Lampard, who was Gallagher’s idol growing up.

9 Albert Sambi Lokonga

It was in 2021 that a young Belgian midfielder was given the number 23 jersey as part of his contract with Arsenal. It was none other than 23-year-old Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Sambi is a midfield dynamo who loves to dribble and take risks on the ball. His intelligence, technique, and versatility were highlighted by club manager Mikel Arteta as the reasons behind taking him for the Gunners.

Although he’s currently on loan to fellow Premier League club Crystal Palace, I definitely expect him to make a name for himself in the 2022-23 season.

10 Fikayo Tomori

I was thinking of who else I should consider for this list, and immediately the name Fikayo Tomori popped into my head. If you’ve not heard of him yet, he’s a young central defender currently playing for Premier League side AC Milan.

An admirer of legendary striker Thierry Henry, Tomori is particularly known for his excellent defensive skills, often making last-ditch tackles and clearances to prevent opposing teams from scoring.

Although he was eligible to play for the Nigerian and Canadian national teams due to his family background, Tomori eventually chose to represent England at the international level. Another upcoming star I’ll be looking out for in the future!