Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé, the French superstar, has been sidelined after sustaining a knee injury, bringing a temporary halt to his relentless streak of appearances. This season, across all competitions, Real Madrid has played 25 matches, and Mbappé has featured in 24 of them, giving everything on the pitch in each outing. The cumulative strain, however, has finally taken its toll, and the 27-year-old’s left knee has succumbed to the rigours of continuous match play.
French sports daily L’Équipe reports that Mbappé had been playing through discomfort in his knee during the last few La Liga fixtures. Initially, the issue did not raise major concern, and the Real Madrid medical team monitored it without major intervention. Gradually, though, Mbappé began to feel the limitations, struggling to accelerate during sprints. An MRI scan conducted on Wednesday confirmed the severity of the injury, prompting the club to decide that the striker should be rested for the time being.
An official statement from Real Madrid read:
“Our medical services team has examined Kylian Mbappé today. He has sustained a strain in his left knee.”
While the club has not specified an exact return date, a close source has informed AFP that Mbappé is expected to be out for at least three weeks. L’Équipe corroborates this, indicating that he will miss multiple upcoming matches, including key fixtures in La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Mbappé remains Real Madrid’s top scorer this season, having netted 29 goals in all competitions, accounting for 55.7% of the club’s total 52 goals. His absence therefore represents a significant loss for manager Xabi Alonso’s squad, particularly as they trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by only four points after 18 games.
Upcoming matches likely to be affected by his absence include:
| Date | Competition | Opponent | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7–11 Jan | Spanish Super Cup | Various | Expected absence |
| 14 Jan | La Liga | Real Betis | Confirmed absence |
| 17 Jan | La Liga | Levante | Likely absence |
| 21 Jan | Champions League | Monaco | Likely absence |
Mbappé’s injury comes after a remarkable 2025, in which he scored 59 goals, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record. Since joining Real Madrid from PSG 18 months ago, he has scored 73 goals in 83 appearances, cementing his role as the club’s talisman. While his temporary hiatus is a blow to Real Madrid fans, the medical team is overseeing his recovery closely to ensure he returns fully fit for the remainder of the season.