Kylian Mbappé is set to don the number 10 jersey for Real Madrid next season, moving from the number 9 he wore during his debut campaign, as confirmed by ESPN. The number 10 has become available following Luka Modric’s departure to AC Milan after a 13-year tenure at the Bernabeu.
Mbappé, who also wears the number 10 for the French national team, had always intended to adopt that number in Madrid when it became free. Reports indicate that if Modric had decided to extend his contract for another year, Mbappé would have remained at number 9.
In terms of individual performance, the 26-year-old had a remarkable season with Madrid following his much-anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer. He netted 31 goals in La Liga, emerging as the league’s top scorer, and totaled 33 goals across all competitions, a feat reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo’s debut season.
Some of his goals were crucial in finals, including the UEFA Super Cup victory against Atalanta and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup win against Pachuca. However, Madrid faced a challenging season overall, finishing behind Barcelona in La Liga and exiting the Champions League after a quarterfinal defeat to Arsenal.
Mbappé’s impact was also hampered during the recent Club World Cup in the U.S. after an episode of acute gastroenteritis forced him to miss the group stage. Although he returned for the knockout round, Madrid’s journey ended with a 4-0 loss to his former club, PSG, in the semifinals.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans, as it symbolizes Mbappé’s ambitious step at one of the world’s elite clubs, potentially reigniting Madrid’s competitive edge. His choice of jersey number also connects a legacy of great number 10s at the club, which could inspire a new era of success for the team.
