Manchester United’s number seven shirt is one of the most legendary in football.
Nobby Stiles, George Best, Ray Wilkins and Bryan Robson are among the names to have made the number seven iconic at Old Trafford before the Premier League era began.
But what about since?
We have ranked those who have worn the number seven shirt since the Premier League kicked off in August 1992. Who was worthy of the number? Top 5
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Probably one of the greatest footballers of all time and an easy choice for the number one on this list.
Cristiano Ronaldo was handed the famous shirt as a teenager, and while some doubted whether he was worthy of such an honour at the time, the shirt will now be forever associated with the Portuguese star.
Ronaldo took things to the next level at United, winning the PFA Young Player Award, the main prize and the also Football Writers’ Award – the first and only player to do so. A Ballon d’Or came next, following in the footsteps of another famous United number seven – George Best.
Ronaldo won three league titles with United, an FA Cup and a Champions League. He’s since won four more Champions League titles, four more Ballon d’Ors, plus titles in Spain and Italy, and a European Championship crown with Portugal.
One of the four players under his management who Sir Alex Ferguson considered ‘world-class’.
2. Eric Cantona
Up next just happens to be another one of Fergie’s ‘world-class’ players.
Eric Cantona was a mirror for his manager’s arrogance and single-minded will to win. He was, in many ways, the catalyst for 20 years of dominance by United, instilling a belief and culture in the club that eliminated complacency.
Enigmatic, unpredictable and yet a supremely gifted forward, handing the Frenchman the number seven made sense because he had an ego to match the shirt.
His time with the club felt all too short in retrospect, but the memories he gave fans were many - not least the two league and cup doubles. We’ve not seen a player quite like him since.
3. David Beckham
You know it’s a competitive field when this man is number three.
David Beckham went on to become the most famous footballer of his generation and changed the face of the game as we know it.
A treble winner with United, England captain, and future Galactico, Beckham was a global star.
United are yet to find a player with his ability in dead-ball situations, nor a player capable of planting a football so perfectly on the head of a striker.
And Beckham didn’t just provide, he also scored a serious number of sublime goals for the club during his time at Old Trafford.
Took the shirt from Cantona and did it justice.
4. Andrei Kanchelskis
Ferguson wanted a fast and skilful right-winger as part of his early Manchester United teams, and finally found one in Andrei Kanchelskis.
Not quite as glamorous as the top three on this list, but Kanchelskis dazzled the Premier League in his early days when his role as a winger was a throwback at a time when most English clubs still played a more traditional right midfielder in a 4-4-2 system.
Kanchelskis was a vital part of the United side that helped secure the club’s first title in 26 years.
The shirt was taken from him by Cantona, but the Ukrainian did the number seven justice whenever called upon. From Kanchelskis onwards, United entered two decades of fielding gloriously talented men on the right.
5. Antonio Valencia
Antonio Valencia arrived with the world’s largest boots to fill as he replaced the departing Ronaldo on the right wing.
And while the Ecuadorian never hit the stellar heights of his predecessor, he proved himself an invaluable servant to the club.
With 339 appearances across 10 seasons, Valencia was versatile, adapting to a full-back role when required, taking up the role of captain when needed, and sharing the shirt when asked. He combined raw pace with brute strength.
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