A Complete Guide to Soccer Positions, Roles & Numerical Designations

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An in-depth look at the different positions on the soccer field and how each one works

Co-authored by Walter Merino and Jennifer Mueller, JD

Last Updated: May 27, 2024 Fact Checked

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Defense

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Midfield

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Attack

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How Can I Be a Great Soccer Defender?

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Expert Interview

If you're not familiar with the game of soccer, it can look a bit chaotic at first. After all, any of the players can move anywhere on the pitch and serve in an offensive or defensive capacity depending on which team has the ball. But in reality, each position has particular responsibilities for progressing the game forward. Read on to learn the specifics about each soccer position, including the jersey numbers players in each position usually wear and the skills they bring to the table.

Things You Should Know

Defensive players include the goalkeeper, full-backs, center-backs, and wing-backs. They're responsible for blocking their opponent's scoring attempts.
Midfielders are the playmakers whose passing and ball-handling skills help create opportunities for their team to score.
Strikers and forwards are attacking players who are primarily responsible for scoring goals off of passes from midfielders.

Section 1 of 3:

Defense

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Goalkeeper The goalkeeper is essentially the last line of defense, and the only player on the pitch that's allowed to use their hands. A goalkeeper's primary job is to stop their opponent's shots by any means necessary, and they usually stay right around the goal to avoid giving the other team an easy opportunity to score on an empty net.^{[1]
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- Important skills: catching, lightning-fast reflexes, agility, strong kicking and footwork
- Other names: goalie, stopper, keeper, goaltender
- Associated jersey numbers: 1^{[2]
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- Famous players: Lev Yashin, Peter Schmeichel, Gordon Banks
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Full-back The full-backs are in the back line of players in front of the goalie. Most formations include 2 full-backs, one on the left side of the pitch and another on the right side. These players support the goalkeeper by stopping shots before they get into the goalkeeper's territory.^{[3]
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- Important skills: anticipation, ability to read the game, ability to read the body language of opponents
- Other names: left back, right back
- Associated jersey numbers: 2, 3^{[4]
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- Famous players: Andreas Brehme, Javier Zanetti, Cafu
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Center-back The center-back is a defensive player who is usually positioned directly in front of the goalkeeper. They have a role similar to full-backs in that they're responsible for blocking shots before they get to the goal. They may also intercept passes or gain possession of the ball.^{[5]
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- Important skills: anticipation, ability to read the game, ability to read the body language of opponents, physical strength
- Other names: central defender, stopper, center-half, sweeper (generally plays slightly deeper than the traditional center-back)
- Associated jersey numbers: 4, 5^{[6]
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- Famous players: Tony Adams, Miguel Angel Nadal, Juergen Kohler
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Wing-back Like full-backs, most formations have 2 wing-backs, one on the left and one on the right. While they do basically the same things as full-backs, they're positioned further out on the edge of the field and likely mark the opposing team's winger and block them 1-on-1.^{[7]
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- Important skills: speed, stamina, 1-on-1 defending, positional awareness
- Other names: left wing-back, right wing-back
- Associated jersey numbers: 2, 3^{[8]
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- Famous players: Phillip Lahm, Roberto Carlos, Dani Alves

Section 2 of 3:

Midfield

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Defensive midfielder The defensive midfielder is positioned just in front of the defensive players. They're primarily responsible for winning the ball back from the opposing team through tackles and interceptions, then passing the ball to open teammates to create scoring opportunities. Because they do a lot of running, they need a high level of cardiovascular fitness.^{[9]
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- Important skills: energy and stamina, passing ability, ball control, dribbling, tackling and intercepting
- Other names: holding midfielder, midfield anchor, pivot
- Associated jersey numbers: 6^{[10]
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- Famous players: Lothar Matthaus, Frank Rijkaard, Roy Keane
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Winger A winger is a variation of a wide midfielder who plays wide on the edges of the field in front of the defense. Most formations have 2 wingers, one on the left and one on the right. These players take on opposition wing-backs and other defenders as well as executing passes and crosses into the goalkeeper's box to create scoring opportunities. They're often the fastest players on the team.^{[11]
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- Important skills: speed, dribbling, strong passing and technical skills, ball-handling, shooting ability^{[12]
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- Other names: wide midfielder, left midfielder, right midfielder
- Associated jersey numbers: 7, 11^{[13]
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- Famous players: Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Neymar
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Center midfielder Center midfielders are typically positioned in front of the center-backs and have a defensive role similar to a defensive midfielder in that they serve as the first line of defense. When their team has the ball, they can break into the opponent's goal box and try to score or create scoring opportunities for other players.^{[14]
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- Important skills: passing ability, tackling, shielding, strength and power^{[15]
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- Other names: box-to-box midfielder
- Associated jersey numbers: 6, 8^{[16]
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- Famous players: Alfredo Di Stefano, Johan Cruyff, Zinedine Zidane
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Attacking midfielder These players are the key playmakers for most teams and are typically positioned just behind the strikers or forwards. The main job of an attacking midfielder is to create scoring opportunities for the strikers and forwards.^{[17]
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- Important skills: speed, creativity, technique, the ability to read the game and read the body language of opponents, passing ability
- Other names: center-attacking midfielder, playmaker
- Associated jersey numbers: 10^{[18]
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- Famous players: Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho

Section 3 of 3:

Attack

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Forward The forward is typically the second player from the front in most formations and is responsible for working with the midfield to create scoring opportunities and assist the striker in scoring goals. In a front-3 formation, the center forward is usually also the striker, with the 2 wingers responsible for assisting.^{[19]
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- Important skills: composure, tactical intelligence, shooting and passing ability, strength and power
- Other names: second striker, center forward, inside forward
- Associated jersey numbers: 10, 11
- Famous players: Lionel Messi, Rivaldo, Luis Alberto Suarez
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Striker On most soccer teams, the striker is the star of the show, the player who scores the most goals. In fact, scoring goals is the striker's primary responsibility, with the rest of the team working alongside them to make that happen. They're always the most forward player on the team and on the lookout for opportunities to shoot.^{[20]
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- Important skills: physical strength, powerful shooting ability, vision and focus
- Other names: finisher, poacher, target man
- Associated jersey numbers: 9^{[21]
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- Famous players: Pele, Ronaldo, Eusebio
Lionel Messi, Professional Soccer Player

Take advantage of opportunities to change the course of game. "There is nothing more satisfying than when you are on the field and you score a goal and help your team win."