Kylian Mbappe will reportedly be sidelined for at least three weeks in a major blow to Real Madrid.
The LaLiga giants confirmed that Mbappe has suffered a left knee sprain after French outlet L’Equipe reported on his upcoming absence.
Mbappe has been in the sort of form that would make him a Ballon d’Or contender, scoring 29 goals and assisting a further five in just 24 games for Los Blancos this season.
He has actually been playing through knee troubles for the past few weeks but, as L’Equipe reported, an MRI scan on Wednesday morning revealed a lesion that requires treatment and rest.
Mbappe scored in Madrid’s last two LaLiga fixtures against Sevilla and Deportivo Alaves but was an unused substitute against Manchester City before that.
If Madrid can limit his absence to just three weeks then it should not derail their season. They have LaLiga fixtures against Real Betis and Levante and a Champions League league phase match against Monaco, all winnable games at home. However, they will also have to negotiate the Supercopa de Espana without Mbappe; they face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals.
Kylian Mbappe is set for a spell on the sidelines which could be a minimum of three weeks
The Frenchman has been in phenomenal form this season, scoring 29 goals in 24 games
Madrid need to sustain their form without him. They are four points off LaLiga leaders Barcelona in second and only sit seventh in the Champions League.
The priority for Mbappe will be making sure he returns as the same player.
In 2025, he scored 59 goals for Real Madrid, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s record which has stood since 2013.
Reflecting on that, he said: ‘It’s incredible, in my first [full] year to be able to do what Cristiano did. [He’s] my idol, the best player in Real Madrid’s history.’
Having copied Ronaldo’s ‘siu’ celebration for his final goa,, Mbappe said: ‘The celebration is for him. I wanted to give him a shout-out because he’s always been good to me, he’s helped me adapt to Madrid, and now it’s great to help Madrid win games.
‘I have a very good relationship with him, he’s my friend now, and I send my best wishes to him and all Madrid fans, and a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It’s a special day because it’s [also] my birthday. I’ve always said since I was little that it’s a dream to play a professional match on my birthday, and even more so for my dream team. The goal was to finish the year with a win.’
He also tops the LaLiga scoring charts with 18 goals – half of Madrid’s total league haul this season.
In December he hit a hat-trick in less than seven minutes against Olympiacos, but was still 30 seconds off the Champions League’s record for the quickest treble – that belongs to Mohamed Salah for his efforts against Rangers in 2022.
