Vinicius Jr is Real Madrid's New Number 7, Rodrygo Gets Number 11
Two of Real Madrid's young Brazilian stars are getting new squad numbers next season.
Vini Jr to Wear Number 7, Rodrygo 11
Real Madrid's squad will be looking considerably different next season after the departures of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio and Eden Hazard, as well as the arrival of Jude Bellingham and likely more to come. There will also be changes for two of their current stars, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who will both receive new squad numbers.
Both players have grown immensely since signing for the club, with Vinicius Junior in particular positioning himself as one of the best attacking players in the world. He was assigned the number 28 when he arrived at the club, then moved to 25, and he's spent the last three campaigns with 20 on his back. In that time, he has become one of Madrid's most crucial players, and his importance to the team will be reflected by his new number 7 shirt, previously occupied by Eden Hazard, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raul.
Rodrygo will take up the number 11 shirt that used to belong to Marco Asensio, Gareth Bale before him, while Ronaldo Fenomeno and Benzema both donned the number 11 for a season apiece while waiting on their preferred no. 9 to free up. In a similar trajectory to his compatriot, Rodrygo started out with the number 27, then picked up Vini's old number 25, before moving down to 21, and now 11.
Benzema's old number 9 has not been assigned a new owner yet. Madrid will likely be in the hunt for someone to fill the Frenchman's boots this summer, so it may not remain that way for too long. New signing Fran Garcia, a left back brought in from Rayo Vallecano, picks up Vini's old number 20.
Vinicius, who is 24, has already been at the club for 5 years and has achieved a lot in that time, with plenty more to come from him by the looks of it. Rodrygo is 22, has been at Madrid since 2019 and also certainly has a very bright future ahead of him at the Bernabeu. Could the two Brazilians go on to make a bigger mark on the club than the famous number 7s and 11s before them?
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Vintage Football Shirts
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2012/13 USA Howard #1 *Player Issue* GK Shirt (L) Nike
2019/20 Nice Tracksuit Top (M) Macron
2019/20 AC Milan *BNWT* Casuals Crew Jumper Sweater (Multiple Sizes) Puma
2013/14 Hellas Verona Track Jacket (S) Nike
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1998/00 PSV *Player Issue* BNWT GK Shirt (XL) Nike
2012/13 Chelsea Terry #26 Third Shirt (L) Adidas
2007/08 Valenciennes L/S Diadora Training Shirt (M)
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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.
