Mbappé and the curse of the number 10 at Real Madrid | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé is facing his second season at Real Madrid. The French striker, who ended up winning the Bota de Oro with 44 goals and the Pichichi in LaLiga, will be looking to convert those numbers into titles for the Whites and also to maintain his consistency in terms of playing time. The first few months at the Bernabéu were somewhat disappointing for the Real Madrid fans, but like any galáctico player when they arrive at the most successful club in the world, the pressure grows as time goes by.

Finally, he ended up taking the reins of the team and his season in terms of goals was magnificent. So much so that many Madridistas who previously refused to “accept” him in the team due to his renewal with PSG now idolize him. The man from Bondy has turned things around and is working to make this season the one in which he establishes himself and breaks through at Real Madrid.

With the departure of Luka Modric from Real Madrid more than a decade later, Kylian picks up the Croatian’s baton and will now be the player wearing the number ‘10’ shirt, just as ‘Kyky’ wrote in his famous comic before landing at Concha Espina. The genius from Zadar is already the player with the most titles in the club’s history, with an enviable record culminating in six Champions League titles—the same as Gento and Liverpool, among others—but the reality is that it is a number that carries a lot of weight in the world of soccer and also at Real Madrid.

Although it has always been the club’s wish that Mbappé wear the number 10, there have been other players who have worn the same number and ended their time at Real Madrid on a sour note. Luis Figo, a galactic signing who was expected to deliver moreAt the beginning of this century, in the 2000s, the first player to don the legendary number was Luis Figo.

It was a signing that made headlines around the world due to the incredible strategy employed by Florentino Pérez, who took one of the best players in the world at the time away from Real Madrid’s biggest rival, FC Barcelona. However, the Portuguese player, who arrived in 1999 and left in 2005, did earn his place with this number. He played 245 official matches, scoring 58 goals. In terms of titles, the highlight was the European Cup he won in Glasgow, specifically ‘La Novena’, against Bayer Leverkusen.

Robinho, Senijder, and Lass followed in the footsteps of the ‘10’

In 2005, Robinho arrived in the Spanish capital. He was a young Brazilian ready to take on the world. Comparisons with the greats were inevitable, because his dribbling, his tricks on the pitch and his quality made him an amazing player who had only just come of age. However, he never lived up to his potential. A bad attitude and problems off the pitch weighed heavily on a footballer who had extraordinary talent. He only spent three seasons with the Whites, but it was nothing to write home about. The highlight was his participation in “the comeback league.”

The next to pick up the baton from the Brazilian was Wesley Sneijder, who also failed to make his mark at Real Madrid. He wore the number 10 shirt in the 2008/2009 season. Injuries ruined his career and he only played 66 games in the white shirt, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists. He was another one of those players who left the club with his image badly damaged because he didn’t know how to manage his departure.

In the 2010/11 season, Lass Diarra was Mourinho’s number 10. He was important to the Portuguese coach, as he was one of his ‘soldiers’ in midfield to stop the best Barça team in history. However, his style of play was nothing like that of the players who usually wear the number 10 shirt at a club. He was hard-working, destructive and key to the balance of ‘The Special One’s’ team, but the following year, his shirt number changed.

Özil and James, two ‘geniuses’ who mismanaged their time at Real Madrid

A German genius of Turkish origin named Mesut Özil was showered with praise from Real Madrid fans every time he stepped onto the Bernabéu pitch. He only spent four seasons at Chamartín, but he was one of those players who left something special at the Merengue stronghold. He always chose the best option for his teammates, made the team play, and formed a dream duo with Cristiano Ronaldo. He was one of the most important players in winning titles such as the 2011 Copa del Rey and the 2012 “La Liga de los récords” (the record-breaking La Liga season). However, he and his father were unable to reach an agreement with the club in 2014 and he left through the back door.

After Mesut‘s departure, and with the explosion of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, James Rodríguez, a young footballer from Cúcuta, joined Ancelotti’s team and was given the number 10 shirt. His first year was sensational, with a total of 14 goals. He played 135 games in total and scored 37 goals, as well as lifting ‘La Undécima’ and ‘La Duodécima’. However, he was always a second-string player. He was important, but never undisputed, except for that first year. After several injuries and being unable to play for a long time, he looked for a way out and several loan moves that ultimately did not turn out to be the best for the Colombian’s career.

Finally, the last player to take the shirt and the one who has honored it the most was Luka Modric, who took the number 10 in 2017 after James Rodríguez’s departure. In his early years, he wore the number 19, but who better than Luka to wear such a legendary number in the world of soccer? Dedication, hard work, sacrifice, and overcoming adversity. All this, sealed with six Champions League titles and a Ballon d’Or, among many other achievements. Now it will be Mbappé who continues the legacy of the number 10, with the aim of not falling victim to the ‘curse’ that many extraordinary footballers have been unable to overcome at Real Madrid. Will he succeed?