Mbappé injury confusion as Real Madrid ‘scanned wrong knee’ in initial test

March 25, 2026 Oliver Obel

Kylian Mbappé says the knee injury that disrupted his season is now resolved, as fresh reporting has raised questions about how the problem was initially evaluated at Real Madrid.

According to The Athletic, the club’s medical staff may have conducted an MRI on Mbappé’s healthy right knee in December rather than the injured left one. The report said the scan showed no issue, allowing him to play in three subsequent matches before a follow-up scan on the correct knee reportedly identified a partial ligament injury.

Real Madrid later confirmed in a medical update on December 31 that Mbappé had suffered a knee injury, although the club did not address the details outlined in The Athletic report.

Speaking to French media ahead of Thursday’s friendly against Brazil, Mbappé described the uncertainty he experienced during that period.

“There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, and then also some anxiety at one point. I had reached a stage where I didn’t know what was wrong with me.

“I didn’t go through that period in the best way. I wasn’t the happiest player in the world. But I’m happy now because it’s truly behind me. It’s all gone.”

Mbappé also dismissed widespread speculation about the severity of the issue, including suggestions it could affect his participation in the 2026 World Cup.

“A lot of people gave a diagnosis, even though until not very long ago I didn’t have one myself. From that point on it was easy to say that everything being said was wrong.

“I heard a lot of things – surgery, that I might not play again, that I wouldn’t be able to play in the World Cup. It was all completely baseless.”

The 27-year-old has recently returned to action, making substitute appearances in wins over Manchester City and Atlético Madrid before joining up with the France squad in the United States.

Despite the interruption, Mbappé has scored 38 goals and added six assists in 35 appearances across all competitions this season.

Real Madrid are second in La Liga behind Barcelona and will face Bayern Munich in next month’s Champions League quarter-finals.

Sources: The Athletic, Real Madrid, Mbappé comments to French media.