Bellingham Chooses Zidane's Number 5 Shirt at Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham was officially unveiled today and showed off his new number 5 shirt, famously worn by Zinedine Zidane.
Bellingham Chooses No. 5 Shirt at Real Madrid
Jude Bellingham was presented as a Real Madrid player today following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund, holding aloft his new jersey for the cameras, with the number 5 printed beneath his name. Many expected him to stick with the number 22, which he wore at Birmingham (who retired the number when he left the club at 17 years old) and Dortmund, as well as for England at the World Cup last year. Instead, Bellingham chose a shirt that is strongly associated with one man at Real Madrid; Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane joined Real from Juventus in 2001 and played out the rest of his career there, winning six trophies, including the 01-02 Champions League, in which he scored one of the greatest cup final goals of all time. Zidane was a truly world class player and so it's no surprise that his identity remains attached to his old shirt number. However, the juxtaposition of the World Cup winner, as elegant a playmaker as there has ever been, choosing a number traditionally reserved for centre backs (typically among the least elegant players on the pitch) makes it even more special.
Zidane and some of Real Madrid's other no. 5s over the years.
Bellingham is a quality midfielder and has been known to play as a defensive midfielder as well as in more attacking roles, so the number 5 is a more natural choice for him than it was for Zidane. The Frenchman is one of the greatest players in history, so it would be a big ask for Bellingham to match his legacy at the club. Still, he'll be hoping at least to fare better than the last man to join Madrid from Dortmund and wear the number 5.
How do you think Bellingham will get on at Real Madrid?? Let us know in the comments.
Vintage Football Shirts
from Cult Kits
1991/93 Arsenal Away Shirt (S) Adidas
1998 Gremio #5 Home Shirt (XL) Penalty
2010/11 Denmark *Player Issue* GK Shirt (XL) Adidas
2011/12 New York Cosmos *BNWT* Fleece Baseball Jacket (Multiple Sizes) Umbro
2007/08 Blackburn Rovers Tugay #5 Home Shirt (L) Umbro
2003/04 Juventus Trezeguet #17 *BNWT* Away Shirt (XL) Nike
2021/22 Club America Hoodie (M) Nike
2004/05 Dortmund Koller #9 Home Shirt (XL) Nike
2000/01 Everton Gerrard #1 GK Shirt (M) Puma
2016/17 Norwich City Howson #8 *Match Issue* Home Shirt (M) Errea
MLS Players Wear Their National Flags on Kits Ahead of 2026 World Cup
Major League Soccer last weekend hosted a dedicated "Farewell Week" to send off its international stars. To mark the occasion, all clubs across the domestic league took to the pitch wearing specially customized kits that honored the various nations represented within their squads.
The most prominent visual update to the MLS uniforms was the addition of official national flags printed directly on the chest for all players and coaching staff. In a highly thoughtful and personalized touch, the league provided specialized double-flag variations for athletes holding dual citizenship. This bespoke detail allowed these specific players to proudly represent both their current homelands and their heritage simultaneously before joining their respective national team camps.
Beyond the chest graphics, teams also sported a unique set of squad numbers on the back of their shirts, featuring a custom pattern made up of the flags of all 48 countries participating in this summer's World Cup.
What do you think of this customized flag concept for the MLS World Cup Farewell Week? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Śląsk Wrocław Announces Macron Kit Deal - No More Nike
Macron has signed a multi-year agreement to become the technical partner of Polish club WKS Śląsk Wrocław.
Starting from the 2026-27 season, the Italian brand will provide technical apparel for the club's men's first and second teams, women's team, youth academy, and blind football team. The five-season deal is the most significant technical partnership in the club's history and includes plans for a new merchandising line for supporters.
Śląsk Wrocław secured promotion to the Ekstraklasa after an impressive campaign in the second tier. Founded in 1947, the Wrocław-based club has won two Polish league titles, two Polish Cups, and one Super Cup, with experience in European competitions. Macron is developing bespoke game sets that will be revealed before the start of the new season.
The partnership bolsters Macron's presence in Polish football alongside existing deals with Lech Poznań, Widzew Łódź, and GKS Katowice.