By Guest - Mar 11, 2025 10:24 PM
Imagine a twelve-year-old boy on a June evening in 2002, glued to his TV screen, watching the magic of Ronaldo Nazario at the World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The legendary “Fenômeno” easily dribbled past defenders and scored goals with cold-blooded composure, turning football into a true art form. And how he admired Michael Owen, whose blistering pace and predatory instinct brought goalkeepers to tears of despair! These players seemed to embody the very essence of football: passion, skill, and a unique ability to be the deciding factor.
Yet more than twenty years have passed, and the football world has changed. The traditional No. 9—the center-forward who once was the heart of the attack—has become a figure we recall with nostalgia. According to a study by Tips.GG, in the 2023/24 season, only 18% of goals in Europe’s top five leagues were scored by strikers playing in a pure “number 9” role. That’s noticeably lower than in the early 2000s, when the figure exceeded 35%. Today, as we look at team rankings, we see how the game’s focus has shifted. And despite football’s evolution, it feels like we’re losing something important along the way—perhaps the soul of the game.
There was a time when the football world let out a collective sigh of awe at the mere sight of Ronaldo Nazario, Thierry Henry, or Gabriel Batistuta—a time when classic No. 9s reigned supreme. They were more than just players; they were the symbols of their teams, personifying spirit and identity. Ronaldo, with his lightning-quick bursts and unflappable calm in front of goal. Henry, whose elegance and grace turned scoring into a series of tiny masterpieces. Batistuta, whose shot was often compared to a cannon blast.
Or consider Michael Owen—he seemed like a teleporter from the future, always appearing in the space defenders least expected. And Andriy Shevchenko? He embodied Ukrainian passion, scoring as if the fate of football itself hung on every goal. Tactics back then were simple: crosses from the flanks, long passes, precise balls into the penalty area. The rest was up to the striker. His role was unquestionable: score, dominate, and instill fear in defenders. It was football artistry without complex schemes or analytics—pure magic of the game. Yet, as often happens, as football developed and evolved, we lost those simple but oh-so-important colors.
Football never stands still. If it once revolved around a brilliant striker ready to tear any defense apart, now teams resemble computer algorithms—constantly reorganizing, optimizing formations, and betting on versatility. Pep Guardiola’s tiki-taka at Barcelona captivated the world, but it also spelled the end of the classic No. 9. Instead of waiting in the box, the striker must drop deep, play one or two touches, and always be involved in the passing game. And Jürgen Klopp’s gegenpressing? That’s the football equivalent of a manic sprint! There’s no room there for static geniuses like Ruud van Nistelrooy.
As former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger noted, “Today the striker has to be a team player. In the past, they played for themselves; now they have to play for everyone.” Lionel Messi is the best example of this evolution—a “false nine” who doesn’t wait for the ball but goes deeper to create opportunities for others. Roberto Firmino? His style is like an elegant dance: a bit here, a bit there, and you can’t figure out where exactly he’s playing. Kai Havertz? A mystery man who’s ready to be anyone but a standard striker.
And of course, recruitment has changed. Now, it’s not the players who score dozens of goals who are in highest demand, but those who tick every metrics box. Mobility, pressing, creativity—this is the new checklist. Numbers matter more than instincts, and even a striker is judged by how well he defends. Sad? Yes. But this is modern football—a game where beauty is often sacrificed in the name of efficiency.
There was a time when specialist strikers were like rock stars: they had one goal—to score—and they did it with deadly efficiency. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Filippo Inzaghi, David Trezeguet—these guys didn’t bother with defending, passing, or pressing. Their job was clear as a summer day: finish off a cross and leave defenders in despair. Today, such heroes have almost vanished.
Modern football demands “comprehensive forwards.” Erling Haaland is a rare example of a player who balances old-school qualities and the new era. He’s powerful, lightning-fast, and still retains that core instinct to score. Kylian Mbappé is another hybrid: he can play as a winger, burst through from deep, or create chances on his own. But such players can be counted on one hand.
It’s even tougher for younger talents. Academies now teach them to be versatile. Want to become a pure No. 9? Forget it! Coaches insist on mobility, creativity, and defensive skills. Even the top scorers on many teams are increasingly inverted wingers or attacking midfielders. Need goals? You’ve got Mbappé on the left, Salah on the right. Somewhere there’s a “nine,” if they even put him on the field.
And so, as we nostalgically recall the days of Ronaldo and Batistuta, we realize: football has changed. The era of specialists is giving way to a world of all-rounders. And while new heroes are writing their own stories, the romance of the classic goalscorer still tugs at the heart.
It would seem the era of the classic No. 9 is over, but even in this new world—dominated by false nines and versatile forwards—there are still those who remind us of the old school. Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane stand out as rare gems who embody the spirit of a true center-forward, yet manage to remain relevant in the modern game.
Lewandowski is a goal-scoring machine who breaks records year after year. His success is not just about brilliant positioning but also his incredible tactical intelligence. He knows where the ball will end up even before his teammate decides to make the pass. Erling Haaland is a force of nature, combining physical power, speed, and a scoring instinct rivaling the best from the past. Meanwhile, Harry Kane is a sort of hybrid—he scores, assists, and links up play.
Their secret is in blending classic skills with adaptability. These players aren’t afraid to adjust to the demands of the times, yet they preserve the essence of what makes them true strikers. They’re not just exceptions; they’re living reminders that genuine talent will always find its place, no matter how complex the era may be.
Football has always been more than just a sport. It’s theater, where emotion, drama, and heroes make every match unforgettable. And once upon a time, the pure striker was the central figure in this grand production. Today, with so few of them left, the game loses a certain magic that captivated fans worldwide.
Where are those “foxes in the box” who lived only to score goals? Ruud van Nistelrooy and Filippo Inzaghi were something more. They symbolized the simplicity and purity of footballing art: find the moment, take the shot, and hit the target. Their departure left an aesthetic void that versatile forwards and false nines can’t fill.
A No. 9 center-forward is more than just a position on the pitch. It’s an archetype, a symbol of an era when football was both simple and beautiful. The disappearance of these players reflects the broader changes in the game, making it faster, smarter, more tactically varied—yet stripping away the emotional spark that millions still love football for.
Let’s cherish the few who still carry that banner: Lewandowski, Haaland, Kane—their performances remind us that beauty in its simplest form and a pure passion for scoring still live on. But will there ever be a true revival of the classic No. 9? Or are we doomed to remember them only through archive videos and nostalgic chats over coffee?
Perhaps these questions should remain food for thought for each of us. After all, preserving football’s heritage is what will allow future generations to know what Ronaldo’s strike sounded like, how Batistuta celebrated a goal, and how that one player who lived only to score could inspire millions.
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