After a questionable handling of his injury, Kylian Mbappé is going through a particularly tough time. The French forward finds himself in a complicated situation as concerns about his physical condition grow.
And the calendar isn’t on his side. With the FIFA World Cup scheduled for the end of the season, the timing is far from ideal for the captain of Les Bleus.
It all started in a match against Celta Vigo at the beginning of December. Medical exams, including an MRI, revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament in Mbappé’s left knee. Initially expected to be out for three weeks, the French forward returned sooner than anticipated.
This quick comeback made it seem like he had healed rapidly. However, the former Paris Saint-Germain player has been playing while still feeling persistent pain. As a result, more than a month after the injury, the damage still hasn’t fully healed. On Tuesday, unable to complete training, he had to pull out before the return clash against Benfica.
Since then, Real Madrid is seriously worried. This setback comes at the worst possible time of the season. The UEFA Champions League Round of 16 is just around the corner, with a potential clash against Manchester City or Sporting CP, followed by a heated derby against Atlético Madrid three weeks later. Mbappé, who has scored 13 goals in 8 Champions League matches this season, is one of the key players for the Madrid squad.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty around his recovery. In a press conference, Alvaro Arbeloa was vague: “We know what he has, and what we want is for him to recover. It will take as long as it needs.”
Mbappé trapped by the calendar
Another headache is the international fixtures with the French national team. To properly heal his injury, surgery is being considered. But according to the daily AS, the forward is firmly against this option. A surgical procedure would keep him off the pitch until the end of the season, jeopardizing his participation in the FIFA World Cup 2026, which kicks off on June 11 in the United States.
Thus, the club and the player are opting for conservative treatment, under the supervision of chief doctor Nico Mihic, with support from external specialists. But no specific timeline has been set, and no one internally can guarantee a return in the hoped-for timeframe.
This Thursday, Spanish media reported that he could be out for up to a month and a half, with a possible return in mid-April. Even in this scenario, it’s hard to imagine Mbappé immediately back to his best. His performance has already declined compared to his dazzling start to the season when he was carrying the Merengues on his shoulders. Could the rush in December cost him his World Cup? That’s the big question.
