Real Madrid, France on alert: Mbappé injury, World Cup in doubt

The wait for the start of the 2026 World Cup is now under 100 days, and the anticipation to see the top players from each team is growing. However, one of them is at risk of missing the tournament: Kylian Mbappé , who has been dealing with a left knee injury for three months with Real Madrid . In fact, he played the last matches with a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament, according to the Spanish outlet El Larguero.

In this regard, the forward has raised alarms in France , as there is a chance he might be absent. Much has been said about the coaching staff of the Merengue, who had him play even knowing he had physical issues, which worsened over time. They even want him to play against Manchester City in the return leg of the Champions League round of 16 in England, but the player's camp is strongly opposed, understanding it could make things worse.

Marca reported that the former PSG player traveled to France to have his knee checked by a specialist after missing the match against Benfica at the Santiago Bernabéu, as he was reportedly dissatisfied with the medical treatment he received in Casablanca. The club's official report indicated a sprain and an absence of approximately three weeks, but speculations suggest it could be even longer.

"We want him to fully recover from these issues so he can return at 100% with maximum confidence and the greatest possible safety once he is completely recovered and those minor issues disappear. We are very clear about what is happening to him," said coach Álvaro Arbeloa before the historic defeat against Getafe, in an attempt to deny all circulating rumors.

His injury originated on December 7, in a 2-0 defeat against Celta de Vigo in the Spanish league. In that match, he showed clear signs of discomfort, although he managed to finish the game. Since then, despite being physically diminished, he played the full 90 minutes in 11 matches and missed seven, due to absences and being on the bench, which shows they made him play a lot despite his condition. Even with this scenario, his season is outstanding: 38 goals and six assists in 33 appearances.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.