Trending 
France captain Kylian Mbappe is receiving treatment for a “small niggle” in his right ankle after joining the national team ahead of the latest 2026 World Cup qualifiers, France coach Didier Deschamps confirmed on Monday. The Paris Saint-Germain forward sustained the minor knock during Real Madrid’s 3-1 La Liga win over Villarreal on Saturday, raising questions over his fitness for France’s upcoming matches against Azerbaijan and Iceland.
Deschamps reassured reporters at the French team’s Clairefontaine base near Paris that Mbappe’s issue was not serious. “I spoke with Kylian, he had a small niggle but it’s not serious, otherwise he wouldn’t be here today,” he said. “We will take the time with the medical staff to assess the situation and then see how it develops.” Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate, who also picked up an injury in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea, underwent tests and treatment alongside Mbappe.
The French Football Federation (FFF) also confirmed that PSG forward Bradley Barcola would be sent home due to a hamstring injury. The club, however, disputed the national team’s diagnosis, posting on social media that Barcola had no chronic injury following PSG’s Champions League match against Atalanta and had played 60 minutes in Ligue 1’s draw at Lille without issue.
Barcola’s absence would add to PSG’s long list of injured players, which already includes French internationals Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue, as well as Marquinhos, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Fabian Ruiz, and Joao Neves. Relations between PSG and the French national team have been strained in recent weeks, following criticism over injuries sustained by Dembele and Doue during France’s opening qualifying win over Ukraine.
Les Bleus currently top Group D with two wins from two matches and will host Azerbaijan at PSG’s Parc des Princes on Friday before travelling to Iceland three days later.
