Real Madrid has a new 'number 10'

According to ESPN, Kylian Mbappe will switch to wearing the number 10 shirt at Real Madrid from the 2025/26 season, instead of number 9 like in his first season playing in La Liga.

Mbappe, not Guler, inherited the number 10 shirt from Modric.

Luka Modric left the Bernabeu to join AC Milan, ending his legendary 13-year journey at Real, meaning the number 10 shirt is still vacant. Having worn the number 10 shirt for the French national team, Mbappe has been waiting for the right time to get his favorite number back.

According to inside sources, Mbappe is ready to continue wearing the number 9 shirt if Modric decides to extend for another season. However, with the departure of the Croatian midfielder, the number change is now a reality.

In his first season playing in Spain, Mbappe had an impressive individual performance. He scored 44 goals in all competitions, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's 33 goals in his debut season at Real Madrid.

The former PSG star also scored to help Real win the European Super Cup (2-0 against Atalanta) and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup (3-0 against Pachuca), but failed to score in two defeats to Barcelona in the finals of the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup.

However, Mbappe still received a lot of criticism when Real Madrid came up empty-handed in major tournaments, finished behind Barcelona in La Liga and was eliminated in the Champions League quarter-finals by Arsenal.

At the 2025 Club World Cup in the US, Mbappe was absent from the group stage due to acute gastritis. He returned in the knockout round, but could not save Real from a heavy 0-4 defeat to his former team PSG in the semi-finals.

"Now, with the iconic No. 10 shirt, Mbappe will enter the new season with greater pressure, and a clearer mission to help Real Madrid win worthy titles," wrote ESPN .

Source: https://znews.vn/real-madrid-co-so-10-moi-post1570930.html