Forward (association football)

A forward (or attacker) is a player in association football or soccer. Forwards play further up the field than midfielders and defenders. They are important because they usually score goals for their team. Because they are closer to the opponent’s goal, forwards focus on creating chances to score and don’t have to worry much about defending.

Attacking players like forwards often try to get past the opponent’s defenders directly. In most modern games, teams use formations that include one to three forwards. For example, a common formation called the 4–2–3–1 has just one forward. Some special formations might use more forwards, or sometimes none at all, depending on the team’s strategy.

Centre-forward

In soccer, the centre-forward is a player who usually wears the number 9 on their shirt. Their main job is to score goals for the team.

Centre-forwards are often tall and good at heading the ball. They can jump to reach passes, hold the ball while teammates move up, or pass the ball to help others score. Some centre-forwards are quick and move around a lot to get open for shots. Today, centre-forwards sometimes play like attacking midfielders, especially in certain team formations. They often play in front of other attacking players and handle the ball a lot outside the penalty box. The name "centre-forward" comes from old soccer formations with five forward players, including two outside forwards, two inside forwards, and one centre-forward. Sometimes, "target forward" is used for a tall, strong centre-forward who is very good at heading the ball and creating chances for the team.

Striker

A striker is a special player in soccer who stands closer to the goal than other players. Their main job is to score goals. They are quick and good at controlling the ball, which makes it hard for defenders to stop them. Some strikers are tall, while others are small but very fast.

Great strikers can shoot the ball well with either foot, and they know how to work with their teammates to create chances to score. They often wear special numbers like 9, 10, 7, or 11 on their shirts.

Second striker

Deep-lying forwards, also called second strikers, have been part of soccer for a long time. In the past, they were called inside forwards or creative centre-forwards. Today, they are sometimes called centre-forwards, but there are newer types: the second striker and the number 10.

Players like Dennis Bergkamp, who played just behind Thierry Henry at Arsenal, are examples of second strikers. A second striker plays a free role between the main striker and the number 10. They need to be good at dribbling, passing, and creating chances for the striker. They also score goals. They help the team by supporting the main attacker and making smart runs to get the ball.

Inside forward

The inside forward was a common position in football from the late 1800s to the middle of the 1900s. These players helped the main forward by running and creating space in the other team's defense. As passing became more important, they also helped by passing the ball.

In early football formations, inside forwards stood on either side of the center forward. Later, as new formations developed, they moved back to help link up with midfield and support the main forward and the two outside forwards. Today, players in similar roles can be attackers, support strikers, or wingers, depending on the team's formation. Many teams still use one striker in a support role like the old inside forward.

Main article: hole
Main articles: 2–3–5 formations, WM formation, outside forwards
mezzala, wing-half, central midfielders, false-9s, 4–3–3 formation, 4–4–2

Outside forward

An outside forward is a player who plays far up the field on either the right or left side. They used to play in old-style games with a 2–3–5 formation or similar setups. Today, these players are often called "wing forwards," especially in modern games like the 4–3–3 formation.

Outside forwards have important jobs. They try to score goals first, but if that doesn’t work, they pass the ball to players in the center to help score. They also need to send the ball across the field for central players to use.

To do well, outside forwards need to be good at dodging defenders, fast for quick attacks, skilled at kicking the ball, and quick at tricking defenders.

Winger

Main article: Midfielder § Winger

A winger is a player who plays on the sides of the field near the edges. They are considered forwards because they started from an old position called the "outside-forward." In many places, like Latin America and the Netherlands, they are still called forwards. But in Britain, they are often seen as part of the midfield.

Wingers' main job is to move past the other team's defenders, pass the ball from the sides, and sometimes score goals. They are usually very fast and good at dribbling the ball. In some countries, wingers only need to pressure the other team's defenders when the ball is with them. Otherwise, they move closer to the midfield to help if their team gets the ball back.

In British football, wingers sometimes need to help their own defenders by moving back to their corner. This can be hard for players who prefer attacking, like Joaquín, Ryan Giggs, and John Barnes.

Recently, some teams use "inverted wingers," who play on the opposite side of the field to cut inside and shoot or pass with their stronger foot. Lionel Messi is an example of this. Some wingers, like Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, often move into the center to score goals, acting almost like forwards.

Sometimes, bigger players who usually play in the center are used as wingers to win challenges and hold the ball. Examples include Jostein Flo and Mario Mandžukić.

False 9

A false 9 is a special kind of player in soccer who plays as a forward but moves back into the middle of the field. This makes it hard for the other team’s defenders to guard them. They might follow the false 9, which leaves space, or they might let the false 9 pass the ball.

The idea of a false 9 started a long time ago. Many great players have used this way of playing to confuse other teams and help their own team score goals.

Target forward

A target forward, also called a "target man" or "target striker," is a special type of player in soccer. Their main job is to win high balls in the air, hold the ball, and help teammates score, as well as score goals themselves. These players are usually tall and strong, good at heading the ball, and can play with their backs to the goal.

Some famous examples of this type of player include Olivier Giroud and Fernando Llorente, who have both won the World Cup. They help their team by pressing, winning loose balls, and passing to quicker teammates like Antoine Griezmann or Kylian Mbappé. Another example is Didier Drogba. Not every tall or strong player likes being called a "target man," though. Players like Zlatan Ibrahimović, Romelu Lukaku, and Erling Haaland prefer to describe themselves differently.

Target forwards don’t run around as much as other forwards. They are strong, tall, and physical. They often get the ball from a long kick by the goalkeeper or a pass from a defender. They are good at controlling the ball and holding it, which lets their teammates move forward. They can pass the ball back, move around defenders to create space, or try to score themselves. Because they are strong, defenders often mark them closely.

Striker combinations

Strike teams have two or more strikers who work together. Good teams often use clever pairings of strikers. Teams with three strikers form "triangles" to create more chances. Teams with four strikers have even more options. Strikers need to be flexible and can change positions quickly.

One famous example is the Total Football used by the Dutch team in the 1970s. Their players, especially Johan Cruyff, could swap positions, making it hard for other teams to defend.

In a pair of forwards, it is common to have players who complement each other. For example, former Italy manager Cesare Maldini often used a big, strong player as a traditional centre-forward – like Christian Vieri – together with a smaller, faster, skilled player as a second striker.

Another successful pair was Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach on the United States national team.

Defensive capabilities

Forwards not only help score goals, they also play a big role in defense. They work hard by pressing the other team, cutting off passes, and helping during set pieces. When the other team doesn’t have the ball, forwards push them back toward their own defenders. This makes it tough for the other team to pass or start a new play.

Forwards also help by blocking passing lanes. They position themselves to stop passes, which forces the other team into a small space and helps create chances to take the ball back. Even though many people think forwards only score, they are very important in defending and protecting key parts of the field.