Kylian Mbappé will don the coveted No. 10 jersey for Real Madrid in the upcoming season, a source has confirmed to ESPN. The French star had worn the No. 9 shirt during his debut campaign at the Bernabéu, but will now take over the iconic number following Luka Modric’s departure to AC Milan.
Modric’s exit ends a 13-year spell at the Spanish giants, during which he helped the club to five UEFA Champions League titles and earned the Ballon d’Or in 2018. His move opened the door for Mbappé to claim the No. 10—a number he has long identified with, both as a symbol of footballing excellence and as his shirt number with the French national team.
A source close to the player revealed that the plan was always for Mbappé to switch to No. 10 once it became available. However, out of respect for Modric’s legacy, Mbappé was willing to retain the No. 9 shirt had the Croatian midfielder opted to extend his stay for another season.
