Missing XI
Recall the starting lineups from famous matches.
Missing XI puts your football memory to the ultimate test. Each day, you're presented with a famous match — complete with the date, competition, score, and the actual formation used. One player from the starting eleven is pre-filled as a hint. Your job is to name the remaining 10 players who started that match.
The matches featured span decades of football history, from Champions League finals to dramatic Premier League title deciders, from legendary World Cup clashes to unforgettable cup upsets. Some lineups are etched in the memory of every football fan; others will have you scratching your head trying to remember who played right-back that night.
With over 100 match lineups in the database, Missing XI is the game mode that separates the casual viewers from the true students of football history. Can you recall the eleven names that took the field on the biggest occasions?
How to Play
- See the match details. You're shown the match (e.g., "Man United vs Bayern Munich — 1999 Champions League Final"), the score, and the team's formation.
- One player is pre-filled. A single player from the starting XI is already revealed in their correct position. This gives you a starting point.
- Guess the remaining 10. Type a player's name. If they were in the starting lineup, they appear in their correct position on the formation.
- Wrong guesses cost a life. You have 5 lives. Each incorrect guess removes one.
- Complete the XI or run out of lives. The game ends when all 11 players are revealed or you lose all 5 lives.
Key Rules
- Formation Display: Players are arranged by position — goalkeeper at the back, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. The formation matches the actual tactical setup used in the match (4-4-2, 4-3-3, 3-5-2, etc.).
- 5 Lives: You have 5 chances to make mistakes. Unlike Top 10, you get a few more lives because naming exact lineups from memory is harder than general trivia.
- Pre-filled Hint: The one pre-filled player counts toward both the completion total and your score. It's free points and a clue to help you figure out the rest.
- Surname Matching: You typically need to enter the player's surname. Common name variations are accepted where possible.
Scoring System
| Action | Points |
|---|
| Each correct player | +2 points |
| Pre-filled player | +2 points (awarded automatically) |
| All 11 correct | 20 points (maximum, capped) |
| Wrong guess | -1 life, no points lost |
| Run out of lives | Keep points earned so far |
Example Round
Match: Man United vs Bayern Munich — 1999 Champions League Final
Formation: 4-4-2
Pre-filled: Jaap Stam (DEF) — +2 points automatically.
You guess "Schmeichel" — Correct! Appears in GK position. (+2 points)
You guess "Beckham" — Correct! Appears in midfield. (+2 points)
You guess "Zidane" — Wrong! Zidane played for Bayern, not United. (-1 life)
You guess "Giggs" — Correct! (+2 points)
Continue until you complete the XI or run out of lives.
Types of Matches Featured
- Champions League finals: The biggest matches in European club football. Istanbul 2005, Moscow 2008, Wembley 2011, and more.
- Iconic Premier League matches: Title-deciding last-day drama, legendary comebacks, and record-breaking performances.
- Derby matches: Classic local rivalries — Manchester derbies, North London derbies, Merseyside derbies at their most intense.
- Cup finals: FA Cup finals, League Cup finals, and memorable knockout ties.
- International matches: World Cup and European Championship fixtures that defined generations.
Strategy Tips
Think position by position. Work through the formation systematically. Who was the goalkeeper? The centre-backs? The full-backs? Filling in one position often jogs your memory for the players around them.
Use the formation as a guide. If you see a 4-4-2, you know there are exactly 2 strikers, 4 midfielders, 4 defenders, and a goalkeeper. The formation constrains the possibilities and can help you figure out who played where.
Remember the era. A 1999 match means you need players from that era. If you're thinking of a current player, they probably weren't born yet. Match the time period to the squad you're recalling.
Don't forget the unsung players. Everyone remembers the star striker, but can you recall the right-back? The holding midfielder? Often the difference between 16 and 20 points comes down to remembering the less glamorous names in the lineup.
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