
Mbappe inherits Real Madrid's number 10 jersey after Modric exit
The 26-year-old French forward wore the number nine shirt in his debut season after arriving from Paris St Germain on a free transfer.
Mbappe takes PSG wage dispute to French league committee
He scored 44 goals in all competitions in the 2024-25 season, though failed to lift a major trophy.
Among the other elite players to wear the number 10 shirt for Real Madrid is Gheorghe Hagi, Michael Laudrop, Robinho and Mesut Ozil.

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Business Recorder
8 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Wirtz's creativity can make up for Alexander-Arnold loss, says Liverpool boss Slot
Trent Alexander-Arnold's departure to Real Madrid has left Liverpool wanting for creativity but the signing of attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz can help offset that deficiency, the Premier League club's manager Arne Slot said. Liverpool smashed their transfer record in June to sign Wirtz and bolster their attacking options, with the German international having scored 57 goals and provided 65 assists in 197 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz played in a Liverpool shirt for the first time at Anfield on Monday, putting in an impressive performance in the Merseyside club's 3-2 win over Athletic Bilbao in a pre-season match. 'I think there's always room for improvement in every department. Like I said, we've added a few, in my opinion, extra weapons. So, Florian (Wirtz) has a lot of creativity in the final third,' Slot told reporters. 'We've lost with Trent (Alexander-Arnold) a lot of creativity from the back. Trent's crosses and picking out runners was so special – I think Flo has this quality as well in a totally different position. 'But he brings that creativity, the pace of Hugo (Ekitike), the pace of both full-backs – Milos (Kerkez) and Jeremie (Frimpong) today.' Inter Miami calls Lionel Messi's leg injury 'minor' Liverpool, who won the Premier League to secure a record-equalling 20th English title, have been busy in the transfer market as they look to build on last season's success. Slot said it was crucial to strengthen the squad. 'Our competitors are not sitting still,' he added. 'Not only they try to improve as well but they have also made a lot of signings, like we all have done. So that's why it's going to be a very interesting Premier League in the upcoming year again.' Liverpool take on FA Cup winners Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on August 10, before beginning their Premier League title defence against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15.


Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Marchand, McIntosh dominate at WAC
Gold medallists Canada's Summer McIntosh and France's Leon Marchand pose after winning best female and male swimmer of the World Aquatics Championships. Photo REUTERS Leon Marchand and Summer McIntosh sealed their golden swimming world championships with dominant victories on Sunday's final day as the United States signed off with a relay record. Eight days of competition in Singapore wrapped up with French superstar Marchand and 18-year-old Canadian sensation McIntosh underlining their supremacy. Marchand, who won four individual golds and was the face of his home Paris Olympics a year ago, added the 400m individual medley crown to his 200m medley title this week. The 23-year-old arrived in Singapore with a lighter programme in an effort to smash Ryan Lochte's 200m IM world record from 2011 — and he did just that. Marchand on Sunday cruised to victory in the 400IM, powering to the wall in 4min 04.73sec, more than three seconds ahead of Japan's Tomoyuki Matsushita (4:08.32), with Russian Ilia Borodin (4:09.16) third. "It's not perfect because it's never perfect, but it's more than I expected, especially the world record in the 200m medley," said Marchand. "It shows that I still have a passion for swimming, that I love it." Not to be outdone, McIntosh was similarly emphatic in winning the women's 400IM for her fourth gold in Singapore, to go with triumphs in the 200m medley, 200m butterfly and 400m freestyle. The world record holder led from start to finish to romp to victory in a championships-record 4:25.78, with Australia's Jenna Forrester and Japan's Mio Narita sharing silver (4:33.26). McIntosh's only defeat of the championships came on Saturday when she finished third in the 800m freestyle, with the American Katie Ledecky reigning over that event once more to underline her enduring quality aged 28. "Overall happy with my meet but always wanting more," said McIntosh. "Even if I were to get five golds, I would still want more, that's just my mentality." The US team were battling acute gastroenteritis all week and faced flak from Olympic greats Michael Phelps and Lochte. But they silenced the doubters by breaking their own world record in winning the women's 4x100m medley relay. The Americans were victorious in 3:49.34, beating their previous record of 3:49.63 from Paris a year ago. They also set a mixed 4x100m freestyle world record on Saturday. The US ended a turbulent week top of the pile with nine golds, ahead of Australia with eight and France and Canada on four — all by McIntosh. American three-time Olympic gold medallist Bobby Finke called the criticism "weak" and "stupid". "Someone wants to say our swimmers are entitled, that's just the dumbest thing I've personally ever heard," world record holder Finke said after winning bronze in the 1,500m freestyle. China's 12-year-old schoolgirl Yu Zidi — whose presence at the championships at such a young age has ignited debate — was just out of the medals in fourth in the 400m medley. Yu was fourth in all three of her individual events and looks set to become a superstar of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. She goes home with a relay bronze from earlier in the week, and with it a slice of history as the youngest medallist ever. Australia's Meg Harris beamed from ear to ear after joining compatriot Cam McEvoy as a 50m freestyle champion. A day after McEvoy won the men's sprint, Paris Olympics silver medallist Harris powered home in 24.02sec to beat Chinese pair Wu Qingfeng (24.26) and Cheng Yujie (24.28). Harris, 23, said becoming an individual world champion was "the dream I have been dreaming of the whole time". Tunisia's Ahmed Jaouadi added the 1,500m freestyle world title to his 800m crown. Jaouadi grabbed gold in 14min 34.41sec, ahead of Germany's Sven Schwarz (14:35.69) and American Finke (14:36.60). There was a Russian victory in the men's 50m backstroke, with world record holder Kliment Kolesnikov dominating for gold in a championships-record 23.68sec. Russian swimmers are competing as neutrals because of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The Russians won the men's 4x100m medley relay from France and the United States. Lithuania's Ruta Meilutyte sealed a career fourth women's 50m breaststroke world crown.


Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business Recorder
Victoria Mboko stuns top seed Gauff to reach Canadian Open quarters
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko earned the biggest win of her career on Saturday, beating top seed Coco Gauff 6-1 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Canadian Open in Montreal. Mboko dropped her racket and covered her face in disbelief as the packed crowd leapt to their feet after the 18-year-old tournament wild card sealed the victory in just over an hour. 'Thank you, you helped me so much,' she told the home crowd in French during an on-court interview. She called her first-ever appearance in the quarterfinals of a WTA 1000 event 'incredible,' especially after toppling reigning French Open champion Gauff. Mboko was helped along the way by her error-prone opponent, who never found her rhythm on serve and failed to convert any of her five break point opportunities. Gauff's sixth double fault set up match point, which Mboko converted when the American's backhand slice drifted into the net. Despite her disappointment, Gauff hugged Mboko at the net and will look to regroup as she prepares to make a run at a second U.S. Open crown next month. Mboko will face either Lin Zhu of China or Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro - both unseeded players - in the quarters. Earlier, ninth seed Elena Rybakina edged Dayana Yastremska 5-7 6-2 7-5 in their fourth-round battle and will next face another Ukrainian, 24th seed Marta Kostyuk, who came from behind to take out American McCartney Kessler 5-7 6-3 6-3. On the men's side of the tournament, which is being held in Toronto, 20-year-old Alex Michelsen reached his first quarterfinal of a Masters 1000 event with a 6-3 6-3 win over fellow American Learner Tien. 'It feels really good,' Michelsen said. 'It's uncharted territory from this point on, and I'm super happy to be in the quarters for the first time.' Michelsen, seeded 26th, will face hard-hitting 11th seed Karen Khachanov of Russia, who upset eighth seed Casper Ruud in their fourth round match 6-4 7-5. Khachanov, who has twice reached the semifinals of the tournament, lost to Michelsen in their only prior meeting. Alex de Minaur, who triumphed at last month's Washington Open, advanced to the quarterfinals over fellow Australian Christopher O'Connell via walkover. Ninth seed De Minaur will next face seventh-seeded American Frances Tiafoe. Top seed Alexander Zverev was set to take on Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the night session.