Kylian Mbappe’s knee condition has become a serious issue for Real Madrid.
The French forward has been suffering from pain for three months and has missed the last two matches, bringing his total number of games missed in 2026 to six. It is still unclear when he will return to the pitch.
According to reports, Mbappe has been left disappointed with the way Real Madrid’s medical staff have managed his injury, and this week travelled to France to receive a second medical opinion.
Less than 24 hours later, the Madrid club announced that he had suffered a sprained knee.
It has been reported from the Spanish capital that Mbappe could return for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City, which would mean an absence of around three weeks.
Coach Alvaro Arbeloa stated before Los Blancos’ clash with Benfica that the player would be ready for that match, but later admitted that his situation is being assessed day by day.
At the end of the week, Arbeloa stressed that a return could take weeks, not days.
However, the player’s camp disagrees with this assessment and believes he could be out for several months.
According to journalist Anton Meana, the message from Mbappe’s circle is that he could need a full three months to recover properly before the World Cup.
They think it’s not “just” a sprain, but that the lateral external ligaments of the knee have also been affected.