Curiously, each of these three clubs has a new holder of their respective No.10 jerseys. At FC Barcelona and at Real Madrid, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé have changed numbers during the summer break. Then, at Atlético de Madrid, new signing Álex Baena has arrived and immediately taken the No.10 that previously belonged to Ángel Correa.
Lamine Yamal: A new contract and a new challenge
This summer saw Lamine Yamal finally turn 18 years of age. Already the teenager has racked up 106 FC Barcelona appearances, scoring 25 goals and providing 34 assists. That’s in addition to six goals and nine assists in 21 outings for the Spanish national team. Now, as a full adult, he’ll hope to continue his incredible rise during the 2025/26 campaign.
The young forward enters this season with a new contract, which runs until 2031, and with a new shirt number, having taken over the No.10 from Ansu Fati, and following in the footsteps of greats like Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
Both are symbolic gestures of just how highly the FC Barcelona directors rate Lamine Yamal, and of how much of a leader he is expected to be in the squad. The youngster will be looking to repay the faith that has been placed in him.
Kylian Mbappé: The No.10 of France and of Real Madrid
When it was announced that Luka Modrić would leave Real Madrid at the end of last season, it wasn’t immediately clear who would take over the Croatian’s No.10 shirt. Mbappé was certainly one candidate, after wearing the No.9 in his first Spanish season, and, sure enough, the 26-year-old has taken on the responsibility of wearing this iconic shirt. It means Mbappé is now the No.10 of Real Madrid and of the France national team, having worn this shirt number for Les Bleus since 2018.
Some of Mbappé’s best performances in his career have come for France, so Real Madrid fans will hope he can replicate those now that he is wearing the No.10 at club level too.
The forward already had a very good debut season with Los Blancos, winning the Pichichi Trophy and European Golden Boot thanks to his haul of 31 league goals. Now, he will hope to score just as many goals or more this term, and lead Real Madrid towards major trophies like LALIGA EA SPORTS and the Champions League.
Álex Baena: The star signing of a busy transfer window
Atlético de Madrid have been very busy this summer transfer window and the player fans seem to be most excited about is Álex Baena. He is the arrival who cost the highest transfer fee, so there are high expectations when it comes to what the 24-year-old can bring to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
Having provided 24 assists across the past two LALIGA EA SPORTS seasons, Baena brings much-needed creativity and he has been given the kind of shirt number a top-class playmaker deserves.
With Ángel Correa having departed and having left the No.10 free, Baena has accepted that jersey and is ready to set up goals and score a few himself. He’ll hope to be just as impactful in Los Colchoneros’ No.10 shirt as Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé at FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.