Real Madrid suffered a setback on New Year’s Eve as forward Kylian Mbappe sustained an injury to his left knee and is likely to miss the next few matches. The Spanish club confirmed the development on Wednesday as they trail table-toppers Barcelona by four points.
In a brief statement, Real Madrid said the French forward had been diagnosed with a knee sprain but did not specify a timeline for his recovery.
“Following tests carried out today by the Real Madrid Medical Services on our player Kylian Mbappé, he has been diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee. His progress will be monitored,” the club said on its official website.
French sports daily L’Equipe, without citing sources, reported that Mbappe could be sidelined for at least three weeks. The report added that the forward had been dealing with discomfort in the lateral ligament of his knee for several weeks, and an MRI conducted on Wednesday morning revealed a lesion requiring treatment and rest.
Due to the injury, Mbappe did not take part in Real Madrid’s final training session of the year on Wednesday.
The injury comes as a major blow for Madrid, with Mbappe in fine form this season. Earlier this month, he scored his 59th goal for the club in 2025, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for the most goals scored by a Real Madrid player in a calendar year.
Mbappe, who joined Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, has netted 29 goals this season, including a league-leading 18 in La Liga.
His absence could affect Madrid’s momentum in the New Year as competitions resume following a brief year-end break. The club is scheduled to play its next match on Sunday.
Real Madrid are set to face city rivals Atletico Madrid in the Super Cup semifinal on January 8 in Jeddah, with the final slated for January 11. Given the limited recovery time, Mbappe is considered a major doubt for the tournament. The situation adds pressure on head coach Xabi Alonso, with reports suggesting the Saudi Arabia fixtures could prove crucial for his future at the club.
(IANS)
