Mbappé's knee raises alarms again

Real Madrid C.F.

The physical condition of Kylian Mbappé is once again at the center of Real Madrid news. A new incident during Tuesday's training has reopened doubts about his immediate availability.

With the Champions League 'playoff' return leg against Benfica on the schedule after the 1-0 first-leg win, the club faces a decision influenced by the pain the forward has been carrying since December.

Interrupted training and public message of confidence

260

Mbappé
25.460.000€    8

J1

DL

423

According to L’Équipe, Mbappé stopped the training session, and his presence against Benfica became surrounded by uncertainty. At Real Madrid, it is beginning to be accepted that the problem is not resolved and that continuing to push could have a greater cost.

In the previous press conference, Álvaro Arbeloa maintained that their star is ready. He focused on the player’s commitment, his intelligence in movement, and statistics that, according to his speech, support the Frenchman’s impact. This stance serves as backing for the player and also the technical management, while it highlights that he is competing with discomfort in his left knee, and that each match becomes a choice fraught with risk.

Origin of the injury, timeline, and the debate about rest

The episode goes back to December 7, when a blow against RC Celta caused the first discomfort. An MRI performed before the year ended detected involvement of the lateral collateral ligament that required at least three weeks off. However, the forward reappeared 11 days later, under competitive pressure and with a final against FC Barcelona looming on the horizon.

From then on, the schedule kept tightening: there was the cup elimination against Albacete, and almost no time to stop. Mbappé only rested against Real Sociedad.

At Valdebebas, the debate has shifted from the medical to the strategic level. Stopping now could ensure his presence in the decisive phase of the season and protect his major summer goal, the 2026 World Cup. Within the club, it is suggested that whether or not he plays against Benfica, he should have at least 10 days of rest. Getafe and the visit to Vigo appear as manageable sacrifices.