Kylian Mbappe is poised to don a legendary new shirt number at Real Madrid for the 2025/26 season. The French forward, who joined the Champions League powerhouse last summer, had previously worn the number nine shirt – a fitting choice considering his transition from the left wing at Paris Saint-Germain to a central position at the Bernabeu.This number certainly proved beneficial for the 26-year-old during his debut season from an individual perspective, as he netted 44 goals across all competitions, earning him the European Golden Shoe. Nevertheless, he will be aiming for greater achievements in terms of trophies in his second season, following Carlo Ancelotti’s squad securing only the UEFA Super Cup – falling short of all domestic titles to Barcelona and being eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16.
With Xabi Alonso now in charge, there is a renewed sense of hope that Los Blancos can regain their momentum in their quest for further global supremacy. Mbappe will be eager to honor his new shirt number, particularly given its rich legacy.
The exit of Luka Modric has made the prestigious No. 10 jersey available at Real Madrid. Mbappe donned that number during his tenure at Monaco and currently wears it for the French national team. It now appears that he is poised to wear the same number for both his club and country.
As reported by ESPN, Mbappe has become the new custodian of Real Madrid’s esteemed No. 10 shirt, which has previously been worn by notable players such as Mesut Ozil, Luis Figo, Michael Laudrup, and Ferenc Puskas – regarded as one of the greatest strikers in the history of football. Although Arda Guler was initially considered a candidate to inherit Modric’s shirt, the ESPN report indicates that it was “always” intended for Mbappe to assume the number once it became vacant. He will have significant expectations to meet – the Croatian captain left as the club’s most decorated player, having secured 28 trophies, including six Champions League titles.
This transition is also perceived as a strategy to enhance the Frenchman’s marketability, with the club optimistic about fully leveraging a potential increase in shirt sales this summer, with record-breaking figures anticipated according to a recent post on Reddit.