Mbappe was destined to take over the number 10 after Luka Modric’s departure. It was a given, a decision too easy to predict. But it remained unofficial. Well, it still is. Yet something has propelled it to feel like an almost formal announcement.
Kylian Mbappe recently took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) and wrote a cryptic one-word post that has Real Madrid fans reading between the lines.
The French striker tweeted simply, “10”, a tiny but cryptic message that Madrid fans online are interpreting as the informal confirmation of him receiving the coveted number following the Croatian legend’s departure.
This informal signal, however, has divided Real Madrid fans on the platform.
Fans left reading between the lines after Mbappe’s quiet hint
There were two names in the race for the number: Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler. But the former was clearly the favorite. He is the franchise player Real Madrid have pursued for nearly a decade, and giving him the iconic number means not just sporting impact but also commercial success.
Still, some fans are not on board. One replied to Mbappe’s tweet, “Wearing the number 10 might feel nice, but you’ll never be a 10, you don’t play like one. Arda Guler is the real number 10!”
While the frustration is understandable, the truth is that shirt numbers in modern football have long drifted away from their traditional sporting roles. The number 10 no longer has to belong to a creative or attacking midfielder. It now represents the most prestigious figure in the team.
The numbers 10 and 7 carry a legacy that few others do. Clubs everywhere seek to harness their symbolic weight for both identity and commercial gain.
Mbappe is clearly the name that draws attention to Madrid, and having that number on his back will only amplify it. Not to mention the shirt sales.
Real Madrid fan and online creator DJ Mario replied, “Se viene” or “It’s coming,” expressing his excitement for the impending announcement.
Lend me your ears, I think Guler is an exceptional talent. He is definitely going to be a big name starting next season. But I do not believe he has earned the stature just yet to wear the number. Sometime in the future, yes. But not now.