Mbappe faces season pause due to knee injury before title push and World Cup
The French football sensation Kylian Mbappe could be forced to pause his current campaign owing to a knee injury, as his primary targets approach rapidly a debut major honour with Real Madrid, alongside a repeat World Cup victory.
With just over 100 days until the 2026 World Cup kicks off, the captain of France appears to be suffering the consequences of his heavy workload in supporting his club this term.
Sources reached by AFP indicate that Mbappe, who has been dealing with an injury to the outer ligament in his left knee since the end of 2025, pulled out of Real Madrid's lineup for the Champions League play-off against Benfica on Wednesday due to "ongoing pain" experienced during practice sessions.
Mbappe is anticipated to take a minimum of 10 days off to address the problem that has plagued him for the last few months.
His unavailability for one of the season's crucial fixtures, as verified by Madrid on Wednesday, raises worries for the Spanish outfit, who suffered a league defeat to Osasuna on Saturday, enabling Barcelona to regain the lead in the championship contest.
Apart from his individual pursuit of success, after completing his debut year at Madrid without securing a significant prize, the high expectations and need for triumphs at the Santiago Bernabeu have led Mbappe to push through discomfort in recent matches.
"We must recognise the tremendous commitment from Kylian and his desire to support the team during this tough period," commented Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday.
Mbappe travelled to Saudi Arabia in January to feature as a replacement in the Spanish Super Cup final versus Barcelona, despite sitting out the semi-final over knee discomfort, yet his side ended up losing.
Key figure
It is difficult to picture the position of the Spanish powerhouse without the exceptional goal-scoring prowess of their number 10, with Mbappe having scored 38 times in 33 appearances this season in all tournaments.
Fortunately, winger Vinicius Junior has reached peak performance following a sluggish beginning to the campaign and may cover some of the load, complemented by the emerging talent of young forward Gonzalo Garcia, whom Madrid supporters are eager to witness more frequently.
Mbappe leads the scoring charts in both La Liga and the Champions League, despite playing in a struggling Madrid team that dismissed manager Xabi Alonso back in January.
In the event of an elimination by Jose Mourinho's Benfica on Wednesday, which could spark another turmoil, Madrid may consider urging their forward to return to rescue their campaign.
If they advance, Mbappe would be targeting the last-16 encounter with either Manchester City or Sporting Lisbon, scheduled for the first match on March 10 or 11.
The upcoming international window from March 23 to 30, featuring France's games against Brazil and Colombia in the United States, would offer an ideal opportunity for further recovery yet might ignite fresh tensions between club and international duties.
The France team relies heavily on their skipper, according to a national team insider speaking to AFP, noting that Mbappe maintains "frequent communication" with head coach Didier Deschamps.
Deschamps is set to reveal his selection for the US visit on March 19, with the itinerary encompassing promotional activities alongside US sportswear brand Nike, which supplies gear for both the French squad and Mbappe.