Real Madrid have been dealt a significant blow with the news that star forward Kylian Mbappe is set for a spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.
Scan Reveals Lesion Requiring Rest
The LaLiga club confirmed the French international has sustained a left knee sprain. This follows a report from L'Equipe, with an MRI scan on Wednesday morning revealing a lesion that necessitates treatment and a period of rest.
Mbappe has been playing through discomfort for several weeks, but the scan results have now forced him out of action. He featured and scored in Madrid's last two league matches against Sevilla and Deportivo Alaves, but was an unused substitute in the Champions League clash with Manchester City prior to those games.
Phenomenal Form Cut Short
The timing is particularly cruel given the 25-year-old's exceptional form this campaign. He has been a leading contender for the Ballon d'Or, having netted 29 goals and provided five assists in just 24 appearances for Los Blancos.
He also leads the LaLiga scoring charts with 18 goals, which accounts for half of Real Madrid's total league tally this season. In December, he showcased his devastating ability by scoring a hat-trick in under seven minutes against Olympiacos, falling just 30 seconds short of Mohamed Salah's Champions League record for the fastest treble.
Impact on Madrid's Season and Mbappe's Milestone Year
If the absence is limited to three weeks, Madrid will hope their season remains on track. They face domestic fixtures against Real Betis and Levante, plus a Champions League league phase match against Monaco, all at home. However, they will be without their talisman for the Supercopa de Espana semi-final against Atletico Madrid.
The club currently sits second in LaLiga, four points behind leaders Barcelona, and are seventh in the Champions League standings. Sustaining their form without their top scorer is now the immediate challenge.
For Mbappe, the priority is a full recovery. The injury interrupts a historic personal season where, in 2025, he equalled a legendary club record. He scored 59 goals for Real Madrid, matching Cristiano Ronaldo's total from 2013.
Reflecting on that achievement earlier, Mbappe 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.' After copying Ronaldo's iconic 'siu' celebration for his final goal that day, he added: '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.'
