The number 10 shirt history at LA Galaxy
- Former Barcelona midfielder Riqui Puig is set to wear the number 10 for LA
- Several iconic players have donned the famed number in previous years
- Puig will aim to lead LA to glory in 2024 with a new number on his back
LA Galaxy announced that star midfielder Riqui Puig would be the club's new number 10 ahead of the 2024 MLS season.
All kinds of players have worn the iconic number for the Galaxy, such as a former US men's national team figure who leads MLS in all-time assists as well as another player who featured for the likes of Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Here are all the Galaxy players to have worn the number 10 shirt since their inaugural 1996 season.
6. Mauricio Cienfuegos (1996-2003)
Mauricio Cienfuegos was the first player to don the iconic number for LA.
The former El Salvador international enjoyed a successful stint with the Galaxy, notching 40 goals and 64 assists in 245 appearances. The attacking midfielder was key to the team's trophy haul that included Concacaf Champions League, US Open Cup and MLS Cup wins as well as winning two Supporters' Shields.
5. Andreas Herzog (2003-2004)
It was always going to be tough to take on the number 10 shirt after Cienfuegos' retirement, but Adreas Herzog's effort wasn't shabby at all.
The Werder Bremen icon tallied four goals and four assists in 28 showings for the Galaxy, but was unable to spur them on to any pieces of silverware.
4. Landon Donovan (2005-2014)
The iconic MLS and USMNT figure Landon Donovan is undoubtedly the Galaxy's greatest-ever number 10.
Donovan, who ended his playing career with San Diego Loyal in the USL, bagged 135 goals and dished out 101 assists during his time in LA, as both figures are second to none on the club's all-time goalscoring and assisting charts.
The former Everton forward helped the Galaxy lift two Supporters' Shields, four of their five MLS Cups, one US Open Cup while also taking home the league's MVP award for the 2009 season.
3. Giovani dos Santos (2015-2019)
Giovani dos Santos stepped up and took on the brave task of wearing the number 10 shirt after after Donovan departed in 2014 (even though Donovan returned for a brief spell in 2016).
Although LA didn't lift any trophies during dos Santos' tenure, he was still able to score 28 goals and notch 19 assists in 88 appearances.
2. Cristian Pavon (2019-2020)
Cristian Pavon joined the five-time MLS Cup winners on loan from Boca Juniors in 2019, and he notched 14 goals in 35 games while donning football's most iconic shirt number.
1. Douglas Costa (2022-2023)
Douglas Costa is the most recent LA Galaxy player to have worn number 10 before Puig.
Prior to his recent departure to Brazilian side Fluminense, the former Bayern Munich and Juventus figure managed a respectable eight goals and eight assists in 51 appearances.
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