In the early July heat of 2024, Kylian Mbappé strode onto the grass of the Santiago Bernabéu. The crowd sang his name, legends Zinedine Zidane and president Florentino Pérez greeted him, and a giant screen flashed “Welcome, Mbappé” above his head. Despite his superstar status he accepted the No. 9 jersey, because Luka Modrić still wore the 10.
Now, one year and 43 goals later, Real Madrid is ready to give Mbappé what he really wanted: the number made famous by Di Stéfano’s partner-in-crime, by Galácticos and playmakers alike. The No. 10 shirt at Real Madrid doesn’t just mean influence on the pitch. It means centrality to the club’s identity.
Still only 26 and coming off a 43-goal debut season, Mbappé is the face of Madrid’s next era. Sources inside the club say the shirt switch is already in motion. Luka Modrić has officially left the club following the Club World Cup and signed with AC Milan. The No. 10 is now available. And for a club as meticulous about image as Madrid, handing that number to anyone but their marquee forward would be unthinkable.
But there’s a wrinkle. After Madrid’s 2025 Club World Cup win, Modrić walked over to Arda Güler and gave him his No. 10 jersey. A symbolic gesture—maybe—but it stirred fan speculation. Would Madrid really give Güler the 10 instead of Mbappé?
A number soaked in legacy
If Mbappé does take the 10, he joins a lineage of legends and nearly-men.
Ferenc Puskás wore it during his astonishing run in the 1960s, scoring 242 goals in 262 games and forming a lethal tandem with Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Michael Laudrup brought elegance to the number in the mid-1990s, even if his stint at Madrid was brief. Luis Figo wore it during his Galáctico peak, orchestrating attacks from wide or central areas.
Later came a string of less consistent heirs: Wesley Sneijder, Lassana Diarra, Mesut Özil, James Rodríguez. Each showed flashes. None truly made the shirt theirs.
Then Modrić arrived. The Croatian didn’t just bring stability, he redefined the position. Wearing 10, he won five Champions League titles, one Ballon d’Or, and became arguably the greatest midfielder in club history.
Now the club faces a choice. Let Güler, the prodigious teenager, grow into it? Or hand it to Mbappé, already one of the most recognizable players in the world?
Fan sentiment seems mixed. On Twitter, some say the No. 10 should be earned. Others say it’s already Mbappé’s. As one fan wrote: “Mbappé’s not just our striker. He’s the system.”
When he first joined, Mbappé said, “It’s an incredible day for me. Since I was little I’ve dreamed of playing for Real Madrid, and today I’m here. It means a lot to me.”
If he dons the No. 10 this fall, it’ll mean even more.
