Rabat – Real Madrid have confirmed that Kylian Mbappe is dealing with a sprain in his left knee, raising doubts about his availability for the Champions League clash against Manchester City.
The French forward has been undergoing tests in Paris, but his camp has made clear that surgery is not being considered at this stage.
Mbappe has been struggling with knee pain since December and has already missed several key matches, including the Supercopa de España semi-final against Atletico Madrid and a La Liga game against Real Sociedad.
🚨 OFFICIAL: Real Madrid statement on Kylian Mbappé injury.
“After the tests carried out on our player Kylian Mbappé by French medical specialists, under the supervision of the Real Madrid Medical Services, the diagnosis of sprained left knee and the suitability of the… pic.twitter.com/ZIfyZ7hSFm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 2, 2026
His last appearance came in the 2-1 defeat to Osasuna on February 21. He was absent again for Madrid’s recent game against Getafe, with the club explaining that further medical evaluations were being carried out.
The official statement from Real Madrid confirmed the diagnosis of a sprain and noted that the conservative treatment plan remains in place. The club stressed that his recovery will be monitored “day by day” and that no timeline has been set for his return.
Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa echoed this cautious approach when asked about Mbappe’s chances of facing Manchester City. “We want him to recover fully from the discomfort so he can return at 100 percent, with confidence and security,” Arbeloa said. “Right now, it’s better not to give deadlines. We’ll see how he feels and decide based on that.”
Madrid are determined not to rush their star forward back into action, even with such a high-profile European tie looming. Arbeloa stressed that the priority is Mbappé’s long-term fitness, not short-term gains.
Despite the setback, Mbappé’s impact this season has been immense. He has scored 38 goals in 33 matches for Real Madrid, along with eight more for France.
His form has only been bettered by Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, who leads Europe in combined club and international goals.
The injury comes at a crucial stage of the season, with Madrid once again set to face Manchester City in the Champions League. The tie has become one of the modern classics of European football, and Mbappé’s presence, or absence, could be decisive.
