If you are really interest in how different countries developed the numbering systems they did, I would highly recommend Jonathon Wilson's extraordinary book "Inverting the Pyramid" (I recommend it anyway, the man is a genius and personal idol).
To outlay the basic framework, players did not originally have a number that they always wore, but rather the starting 11 were handed the numbers 1-11 based on what position they played. Originally, this was done in a fairly uniform manner, since nearly every team played a formation of a goalkeeper, 2 defenders (called fullbacks), 3 midfielders (called halfbacks), and 5 forwards (right winger, inside right, center forward, inside left, left winger). Number assignment was as follows: goalkeepers wore 1, fullbacks wore 2 and 3, midfielders wore 4, 5, and 6, and forwards wore (right to left) 7,8,9,10,11.
A general outline can be found here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squad_number_%28association_football%29
The differences in numbering schemes came as teams evolved into different formations than the 2-3-5 (the "Pyramid" noted by Wilson). The general trend in the early history of the game was moving more defenders into the back line, England dropped halfbacks further back (which is why the English still call central defenders "center halves" while the fullbacks where pushed further wide, where they retain their numbers 2 and 3
Of course modern players now have a permanent number that they always wear, which may or may not match up with any particular position, and some players have even started to wear rather non-traditional numbers, with anything 1-99 allowed usually.
A great tool on figuring out where different numbers play in different countries
http://www.football-lineups.com/numbering/
An English back 4 is numbered (right to left) 2, 5, 6, 3.
In Argentina it is 4, 2, 6, 3.
Brazil prefers 2,3,4,6
The Dutch a more straightforward 2, 3, 4, 5.
Midfielders generally are limited by what their country considers a "midfielder" and usually don't wear number 9.
Forwards traditionally wear 7, 9, 10, or 11. (14 being rather common thanks to Johan Cruyff)
Special Numbers
Certain numbers contain a special meaning, a number 5 in Brazil is the "Volante" the rudder that steers the ship, a defensive midfielder.
The most universally revered number is 10. Being a number 10 is a responsibility, a requirement to be a special creative type, but also allowed the freedom of an artist and allowed to perhaps be a bit slack on defense.
In Argentina, the 10 is called the "enganche" (lit. hook), in Italy the 10 is usually given to the "trequartista" (lit 3/4) halfway. In England the 10 is usually given to the "second striker" usually the slightly deeper lying striker who provides the passes for the 9 to score.
This brings me to name of the blog; in recent years a position called the "false 9" has been popularized in the media by players such as Totti of Roma and Italy and Messi of Barcelona and Argentina. The general idea of a false 9 is that the player positioned as the center forward (traditionally the wearer of the 9), but who roams away from that position trying to drag defenders out of position. The idea of a 9 withdrawing from his position is not a new one however, it can be traced back to the mighty Hungarian team of the 1950s, where center forward Hidegkuti would drop into midfield leaving room for the great Puskas to run at defenders and score goals.
So now, there are essentially two types of center forwards in the world, the more old fashioned but still more popular "pure 9", who is there to score goals, hassle the defense, and generally finish off scoring moves, and the "false 9" who roams freely, leaving space for others to run in behind him.
Of course all truly great strikers can do a bit of both, but I leave you with a video of probably the best orthodox 9, Falcao of Athletico Madrid and Columbia, and the best false 9, Messi of Barcelona and Argentina.
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