When Luka Modric played his final match for Real Madrid – fittingly against Paris Saint-Germain, the club of Kylian Mbappe’s past – it marked the end of an era. The Croatian maestro, a six-time Champions League winner and a Ballon d’Or recipient, bid farewell to the number 10 shirt, arguably the most storied number in soccer.
With his departure, the jersey is officially vacant. The immediate assumption across the soccer world was that the club’s newest superstar, Kylian Mbappe, would inherit the number. After all, he wears it for France, previously wore it at PSG, and is now Real Madrid’s top scorer, La Liga’s Pichichi, and the European Golden Shoe winner with 43 goals in his debut season.
But in classic Madrid fashion, the path to the throne is never without a twist. Mbappe arrived at Madrid in July 2024, presented at the Santiago Bernabeu in front of over 25,000 fans, accompanied by legends like Zinedine Zidane and greeted by Florentino Perez. At the time, with Modric still on the roster, he was handed the number 9 shirt. It was a number that brought him incredible fortune, but now that 10 is free, Mbappe is ready to step into even greater symbolism.
Los Blancos’ marketing team has already begun preparing kits with the Frenchman’s name and the number 10, signaling that an announcement is imminent. According to Marca, “It would be an update of the personal and club image for a player who, in addition to his appearances on the pitch, is a revenue machine for the club in terms of image rights.”
Indeed, the number 10 jersey at Madrid is reserved for legends – icons who leave more than goals behind. Mbappe checks every box: performance, global fame, and commercial appeal.
Unexpected contender emerges
But just when the decision seemed a formality, an unexpected challenger emerged. Cameras caught a moment after the Club World Cup final, where Modric, now departing, was seen handing his number 10 shirt to young Turkish midfielder Arda Guler, followed by a heartfelt embrace.
What looked like a sentimental gesture quickly took on symbolic weight. Was this a passing of the torch? Marca confirmed the speculation, stating that “Guler has also entered the race to get the number 10 shirt from Madrid.” While Florentino Perez has the final say, many at the club believe Modric’s personal gesture may carry influence — even if unofficial.
Why Guler could get the nod
Though still early in his Real Madrid career, Arda Guler has impressed. After being gradually introduced under Xabi Alonso, the 19-year-old has shown flair, vision, and technical elegance reminiscent of the Croatian himself. In key matches of the FIFA Club World Cup, Guler became a go-to option, particularly in the second halves, often changing the tempo of the game.
He’s been praised internally as “Xabi Alonso’s preferred technician”, and the club reportedly sees him as part of the long-term creative engine in midfield. With new signings arriving and squad numbers limited, Real Madrid might feel tempted to reward Guler’s emergence with the historic number.
There’s also a deeper romanticism to the idea – the symbolic transition from one midfield magician to another, a Modric-to-Guler narrative that the Madrid faithful might embrace.
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