False Nine / Zero Top
偽9番（ゼロトップ）
False Nine — A centre-forward who drops from the front line into midfield.
1💬 In a nutshell
“A striker who isn't where he's supposed to be.”
2🎬 See it move
An original tactics board (blue = the team in focus, red = the opponent; attacking left to right). The board animates on its own.
⚽ Open the interactive version (117 more terms, each with its own board)
3🔍 Why it matters — what to watch for
When the CF drops, the marking CB faces a dilemma: follow, or hold position? Follow and space opens behind; leave him and you're outnumbered in midfield. Messi rewrote history in this role.
Columns put it“The false nine drops to draw out both CBs, and the wingers stab in behind — a breakdown straight from the blueprint.”