Real Madrid have officially decided to hand over the club’s legendary number 10 jersey to French superstar Kylian Mbappe ahead of the highly anticipated 2025/26 football season.
The decision represents a major symbolic moment in Mbappe’s career at the Bernabeu, as he is set to step further into the role of the club’s talismanic figure just one year after arriving from Paris Saint-Germain.
Mbappe had been widely expected to inherit the number 10 shirt upon his signing in the summer of 2024, but that plan was temporarily shelved due to the unexpected contract extension signed by Croatian veteran Luka Modric, who had worn the number for over a decade.
As a result, Mbappe took on the number 9 shirt for the 2024/25 campaign. However, following Modric’s recent transfer to Serie A giants AC Milan, the path has been cleared for Mbappe to claim the shirt most associated with creativity, leadership, and attacking brilliance at the Spanish capital club.
According to a report by ESPN, the move is not only based on Mbappe’s own preference—he wears the number 10 for the French national team—but is also rooted in Real Madrid’s broader commercial strategy.
By placing one of the world’s most marketable players in the club’s most iconic number, Real Madrid aims to spark a surge in global jersey sales and strengthen Mbappe’s image as the face of the club’s future.
There were other internal candidates considered for the number 10 shirt, such as Turkish prodigy Arda Guler and the recently signed Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono. However, neither player currently commands the global recognition or seniority that Mbappe possesses.
With the shirt switch now confirmed, it leaves a vacancy at number 9, raising questions about how Real Madrid will shape their forward line going forward. While no major centre-forward signings are expected this summer, the club is expected to rely on emerging talents such as Gonzalo Garcia Torres and Brazilian starlet Endrick Felipe.
Although both young players are highly rated within the club’s long-term project, neither has yet established themselves as a traditional Real Madrid number 9—a role historically filled by prolific finishers like Karim Benzema, Ronaldo Nazário, and Hugo Sánchez.
Additionally, uncertainty surrounding Rodrygo’s future adds another layer of complexity to the team’s attacking structure. If he leaves, it could open up more opportunities for Mbappe to take full control of the offensive leadership on and off the pitch.
With the number 10 now officially his, all eyes will be on Kylian Mbappe to see how he carries the weight of one of football’s most iconic shirts as Real Madrid enter a new era of ambition and renewal.[/p>