The Tactical Revival of the False Nine in Modern Football
For much of the early 2010s, the “false nine” role was the tactical buzzword in elite football. Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona – arguably the best club side in modern history – used Lionel Messi as the prototype. He wasn’t just a forward; he was an orchestrator. Drifting deep to collect the ball, he confused defenders and linked play like a midfield conductor.
However, as football evolved, the rise of pressing systems and specialised defenders led to the false nine’s decline in favour of more traditional strikers or wide goal scorers. Yet in the last few seasons, we’ve witnessed a quiet tactical revival.
A New Generation of False Nines
Players like Kai Havertz, Cody Gakpo, and even Phil Foden have all occupied this hybrid role – not out of nostalgia but as a necessity of fluid systems. These aren’t classic No. 9s, and they aren’t bruising poachers. Instead, they’re multi-functional creators, designed to blur lines and stretch shapes.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, for example, has reimagined the role with Havertz as a deeper striker who combines midfield play with penalty-box presence. Unlike the pure flair of Messi or the elegance of Francesco Totti, Havertz operates as a physical link-up player, giving Arsenal the flexibility to rotate positions on the fly.
Why the False Nine Works Again
Football is fluid, as teams focus heavily on rigid pressing systems, spaces open up in unexpected places – particularly between the lines. The false nine exploits that vacuum.
Additionally, fullbacks now invert and central midfielders push wide. Traditional roles have become increasingly fluid, and the false nine is the perfect enabler in this evolving landscape.
We’re in an era where tactical flexibility is prized, not just talent. Just as some fans play online slots to test their luck, managers take calculated risks with positional play and formations, hoping to unlock a competitive edge.
Best False Nines from the Past
The false nine role may be trending again, but it was shaped by some of the most intelligent and influential players in football history. These pioneers redefined what it meant to lead the line without necessarily being the focal point of the attack.
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
No discussion of the false nine is complete without Lionel Messi. Under Pep Guardiola, Messi was deployed centrally not to finish attacks, but to start them. His ability to drop deep, pick passes, and then finish the move himself made him unmarkable. The 6-2 demolition of Real Madrid in 2009 was a masterclass, with Messi creating overloads in midfield and ghosting into the box to score.
Francesco Totti (Roma)
Long before Messi popularised the role, Francesco Totti was subtly rewriting it at Roma. In Luciano Spalletti’s 4-6-0 system, Totti wasn’t a striker – he was a creator operating from a striker’s position. With sublime vision and technical finesse, Totti blurred the line between playmaker and forward, finishing as Serie A’s top scorer in 2006–07 despite rarely playing as a traditional No. 9.
Cesc Fàbregas (Spain)
During Euro 2012, Spain surprised many by playing without a recognised striker – opting instead to use Fàbregas in the false nine role. While unconventional, the tactic suited Spain’s pass-heavy style of play. Fàbregas linked midfield and attack seamlessly, and the approach helped La Roja secure a historic third consecutive international title.
The Psychological Edge
What makes the false nine even more dangerous is the confusion it causes. Defenders don’t know whether to step up or stay back. Midfielders don’t know whether to track or hold shape. The indecision is a weapon in itself.
In matchups between top sides where margins are razor-thin, these tactical nuances become decisive.
What’s Next?
Will the false nine remain central to the tactical future of football? Perhaps. Or maybe we’ll see a resurgence of the classic target man, as teams seek directness over deception.
But for now, this revival reminds us that football’s evolution never stops; it only continues to adapt.