Fifty-fifth minute at Kocaeli Stadium. Played in by Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé rifled a low shot into the near post to put France 1-0 up against Turkey. Moments later he was on the ground, clutching his left leg.

He walked off the pitch under his own power a few minutes later, replaced by Désiré Doué. By the end of the night the France camp had already confirmed the striker’s international break was over.

Zinedine Zidane, taking charge of France for the first time, did not soften the verdict.

“No, it’s not good. It’s not good, unfortunately. He will have to go back. We will not take risks, he has extended his knee when he took the shot. It’s not very encouraging.”

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The French Football Federation followed up with confirmation that Mbappé had suffered a left knee tendon injury and would miss the rest of the training camp. No replacement has been called up.

Real Madrid brace for a busy October

Mbappé travelled back to Madrid for further examinations. Real Madrid’s medical staff will run their own scans before putting a firm timeline on the injury, and no club statement has been issued.

The severity is what will define his October. A mild tendon strain would keep him out for two to three weeks, a more significant lesion for four to six, and complications could push the recovery towards eight to twelve. He was seen leaving the Kocaeli dressing room without crutches, walking with only a slight limp.

The calendar leaves little room. Real Madrid host Villarreal in LaLiga on October 10 before travelling to face Roma in the Champions League four days later. The Clásico at the Nou Camp is set for October 25.

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The Ballon d’Or a day later

Mbappé is one of the leading names in the running for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, staged in London on October 26, the 70th edition and the first to leave Paris. Harry Kane leads the bookmakers’ market ahead of Lamine Yamal and Mbappé.

France’s next match without their captain is away to Belgium on Monday, September 28. Zidane’s second night in the dugout will be prepared without the striker who won him his first.

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