Kylian Mbappe’s knee injury was misdiagnosed after Real Madrid medical staff carried out an MRI scan on the wrong leg again in December.
When no downside was discovered after a scan of his unhurt proper knee, the 27-year-old featured in three video games for Madrid earlier than the error was realised and rectified.
Sources with first-hand data of the state of affairs — who, like all these consulted for this text, requested to talk anonymously as they didn’t have permission to remark — mentioned Mbappe continued enjoying after that preliminary faulty scan regardless of having indicators of irritation in his injured left knee.
An extra scan on his left leg then confirmed a partial posterior knee ligament tear, and on December 31, Madrid revealed a medical report in keeping with that, though they described the injury in additional common phrases as a knee sprain.
It is unclear how the preliminary mistake was made. Real Madrid and Mbappe’s representatives have been approached for touch upon this story.
Mbappe’s troublesome knee
The first indicators of Mbappe’s knee downside got here after Madrid’s 2-0 La Liga defeat at dwelling to Celta Vigo on December 7. Sources among the many membership’s teaching staff again then mentioned it happened after Mbappe suffered a blow to his knee within the match.
On December 10, the striker was an unused substitute for Madrid’s dwelling Champions League sport with Manchester City, however he then performed the total 90 minutes in all three of Madrid’s remaining video games of 2025, ultimately equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s membership file of 59 targets in a calendar 12 months.
When Mbappe returned to coaching after the Christmas break on December 30, he was seen touching his left knee as he spoke to medical staff. A day later, Madrid revealed their medical replace with the knee sprain analysis — including {that a} “conservative” restoration plan could be adopted.
Following that, Mbappe didn’t journey with the squad to Saudi Arabia for his or her Supercopa de Espana semi-final in opposition to metropolis rivals Atletico Madrid, though he did then be part of the group for the ultimate in opposition to Barcelona on January 11, coming off the bench for the ultimate 14 minutes of a 3-2 defeat that in the end value Xabi Alonso the top coach’s job.
Mbappe performed three full video games after having a scan on the wrong knee (Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The Frenchman then performed in eight of Madrid’s subsequent 10 matches, scoring 9 targets, with the final of those approaching February 21. During this time, new Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa mentioned that Mbappe’s involvement was being carefully monitored, and his workload was lowered in coaching.
“We’re taking it day by day,” Arbeloa mentioned of Mbappe’s health earlier than a house La Liga fixture with Getafe on March 2. “It depends on how he’s feeling. We want him back at 100 per cent.”
Mbappe didn’t play in that sport — the second match in a run of 5 Madrid fixtures he missed. He as an alternative travelled to Paris for additional assessments and remedy on his knee injury, accompanied by Madrid medical staff.
Madrid’s wider injury points
After Alonso was sacked, Madrid president Florentino Perez additionally made modifications to the membership’s bodily coaching and medical departments, with trusted fitness coach Antonio Pintus brought back, in addition to head of medical companies Dr Niko Mihic. Injuries have nonetheless been an issue for the group beneath new coach Arbeloa, nevertheless.
After Mbappe’s journey to Paris, Madrid revealed one other medical replace which re-confirmed the analysis that they had shared on December 31, repeating {that a} “conservative recovery plan” could be adopted.
One one that works at Madrid’s coaching floor told The Athletic again in February that on some days Mbappe had felt fantastic and on others he had been in ache, which might clarify how he has been capable of make a number of appearances for the reason that downside first appeared.
Another supply acquainted with Mbappe’s analysis mentioned his knee was not displaying indicators of instability, so it was not deemed a danger for him to be enjoying when not in ache.
The Frenchman made his newest return from injury in final Tuesday’s Champions League 2-1 victory at City, a outcome that meant Madrid progressed to the quarter-finals as 5-1 winners on combination. He got here off the bench in that sport to play 21 minutes, and did so once more in Sunday’s 3-2 dwelling win over Atletico, enjoying 26 minutes.
Mbappe is now on worldwide responsibility with France, who’re enjoying two friendlies, in opposition to Brazil on March 26 and Colombia on March 29, within the United States.
