Forward (association football)

In the sport of association football or soccer, a forward (or attacker) is an outfield position which plays further up the pitch than midfielders and defenders. Forwards are important because they are usually the players who 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, which makes it harder for the other team to stop them. 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 most of the 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, though not all centre-forwards are target forwards.

Striker

A striker is a special kind of player in soccer who stands closer to the goal than other players. Their main job is to score goals. They are very quick and can control the ball well, making it hard for defenders to stop them. Some strikers are tall, while others are smaller 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, but the words used to describe them have changed. In the past, they were called inside forwards or creative centre-forwards. Today, they are sometimes called centre-forwards, but there are two 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 while also being able to score goals. They help the team by supporting the main attacker and making smart runs to get the ball and score.

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 usually played 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 should 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, quick at tricking defenders, and good at finishing passes from teammates on the sides.

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. As these players get older, they might move closer to the front of the field to use their skills in tight spaces.

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 can either follow the false 9, leaving space behind them, or let the false 9 have time to pass the ball.

The idea of a false 9 started a long time ago. Many great players have used this clever way of playing, confusing other teams and helping 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 onto the ball, and help create chances for their teammates to 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, which can lead to fouls and referee calls.

Striker combinations

Strike teams have two or more strikers who work together. In football history, many good teams have used clever pairings of strikers. Teams with three strikers often form "triangles" to create many attacking chances. Teams with four strikers have even more options. Strikers need to be flexible and can change their roles quickly, moving between different attacking positions.

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 – such as Roberto Baggio or Alessandro Del Piero.

Another successful pair was Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach on the United States national team. In 2012, they scored 55 goals together, matching a record set in 1991 by Michelle Akers and Carin Jennings.

Defensive capabilities

Even though forwards mainly help score goals, they also have important jobs in defense. They can help by pressing hard on the other team, cutting off passes, and defending during set pieces. When the other team doesn’t have the ball, forwards help push them all the way back to their own defenders. This makes it hard for the other team to pass or start a play.

Forwards also help by cutting off passing lanes, which means they position themselves to block passes. This forces the other team into a small area and helps create chances to take the ball back. Even though many people think forwards only score, they are very important in helping defend and protect key areas of the field.