Kylian Mbappe continues Luka Modric’s legacy: Watch Real Madrid star open account as Real Madrid’s new No. 10 with brace in final pre-season game ahead of La Liga start

The white shirts are moving with sharp intent, and in the midst of it all, Kylian Mbappe is not just playing – he’s carrying a legacy.

Under the cool Alpine evening air at the Tivoli Stadion Tirol, all eyes are on Real Madrid’s final rehearsal before the new La Liga campaign kicks off. The white shirts are moving with sharp intent, and in the midst of it all, Kylian Mbappe is not just playing – he’s carrying a legacy. The French star steps onto the pitch tonight wearing the iconic No. 10, once draped over the shoulders of Luka Modric, and he’s already making that number speak in the most emphatic way.

With Xabi Alonso fine-tuning his squad just days before the season opener against Osasuna, the friendly against WSG Tirol is proving to be far from a routine run-out — especially after one moment of brilliance from their newest superstar.

Los Blancos’ lineup is notably experimental, with injuries keeping out Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, and Endrick. Alonso has gone with a 4-3-3 setup: Thibaut Courtois in goal, a backline featuring Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, and Eder Militao, while Arda Guler partners Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Ceballos in midfield. Up front, Vinicius and Brahim Diaz flank Mbappe.

Tirol arrives in red-hot form, having won its first two league matches and a cup tie, scoring 11 goals in the process and sitting atop the Austrian Bundesliga. It is clearly not here just to make up the numbers.

The breakthrough

However, the opening minutes showed Madrid’s intent. In the 10th minute, Eder Militao heads in the opener, giving Los Blancos the early lead. Just three minutes later, the Tivoli crowd witnesses the moment they came for — Mbappe, receiving the ball centrally, drives a left-footed shot past the keeper and into the net.

It’s more than just a goal; it’s his first strike in a Real Madrid shirt as the new No. 10. The French forward follows in the footsteps of legends like Ferenc Puskas, Clarence Seedorf, Luis Figo, Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrup, Robinho, and Mesut Ozil.

Mbappe had worn the No. 9 in his debut season after his free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain, where he scored 44 goals in all competitions in 2024-25 but fell short of winning a major trophy. Now, with Luka Modric having departed for Milan, he takes over the iconic number and wastes no time making it his own.

And then, just on the hour mark, after some excellent dribbling past the goalie, the French ace added his second goal of the match, Real Madrid’s third.