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Spanish giants Real Madrid said on Wednesday that Kylian Mbappe had suffered a knee sprain, delivering a blow to their bid to reel in Liga leaders Barcelona.
“After the tests carried out today on our player Kylian Mbappe by Real Madrid’s medical services, he was diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee. Awaiting evolution,” the club said in a statement.
Real Madrid did not specify how long the 27-year-old striker would be out, but a source said he would be absent for at least three weeks.
Mbappe, the leading scorer in La Liga this season with 18 goals, is therefore a major doubt for Sunday’s league match at home to Real Betis, Los Merengues’ first after the winter break, as they trail Barcelona by four points. He could also miss the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against arch-rivals Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia on January 8, as well as a league fixture against Levante and a Champions League clash with former club Monaco.
Real did not say when or how Mbappe was injured; however, he had trained with the team on Tuesday. He underwent an MRI scan on Wednesday.
Mbappe has enjoyed a stellar 2025, equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record 59 goals in a calendar year, and has at times carried Real Madrid, relieving some pressure on under-fire coach Xabi Alonso.
He finished top scorer in La Liga last season with 31 goals, four more than Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski and is currently seven goals clear of the next best this season, Barca’s Ferran Torres.
His absence adds to those of Real defenders Daniel Carvajal and Eder Militao, midfielder Federico Valverde, and forward Brahim Diaz, who is at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.
