Kylian Mbappé is blessed with extraordinary talent, most notably his seemingly "indestructible" physical condition. This has not only allowed him to turn games single-handedly on the pitch but also made him highly resilient to injuries throughout his career. Even after a decade at the top level, he has rarely been sidelined, and any minor knocks have always resulted in negligible absences.
That is why his current situation feels completely alien and confusing to him. A recurring old injury has forced him out of action five times in the past three months, gradually dragging him away from his peak physical form.
Worse still, his number of days sidelined has hit a new personal high, an experience never before seen in his career. With the season still not at the halfway stage, Mbappé’s total injury absence has already surpassed the combined total of any full season in his past.
His previous "record" dates back to the 2019–20 season, when he missed a total of 51 days due to a muscle injury (33 days) and a right ankle lateral ligament sprain (18 days). Now, after as many as eight physical discomforts, his absence this season has reached 53 days – a new "record" he never wanted to see, quietly becoming a reality.
In the past, Mbappé’s exceptional physique guaranteed him remarkable availability. Last season, he missed only 24 days through injury (three instances in total), with the longest absence being 15 days due to gastroenteritis that nearly ruled him out of the FIFA Club World Cup. Going further back, in his final three seasons at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Real Madrid, he missed a combined total of just 42 days.
This current scenario is therefore entirely uncharted territory for him. The powerlessness of being unable to control his body and watching his "injury absence timer" tick on has left the ever-ready star feeling more frustrated and disorientated than ever before.
It all began on 7 December last year, when Mbappé took a blow to his left knee in the match against Celta Vigo. Three days later, he missed the crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City (he was on the bench but did not feature). At first, it seemed like a minor blip, as he made an immediate return against Alavés in the next game. However, the underlying problem was not resolved.
After the Christmas break, following Real Madrid’s traditional end-of-year open training session at the Valdebebas training ground, Mbappé’s knee flared up again. MRI results revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament of his knee, with the medical team advising a minimum three-week layoff.
Yet the number 10 man returned to manager Xabi Alonso’s squad just 11 days later. After missing the La Liga match against Real Betis on 4 January and the Madrid derby in the Supercopa de España semi-final on 8 January, the immense pressure of the upcoming El Clásico final saw Mbappé – who had been advised to stay in Madrid to recover – travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia. He came on as a substitute in that high-profile clash but played just 14 minutes.
Real Madrid lost that final, and lost Mbappé once again. It was his third knee-related layoff. He subsequently missed the Copa del Rey tie against Albacete. After the team’s humiliating elimination, the packed fixture schedule and pressing schedule left Mbappé with no breathing room. He gritted his teeth to push on, until his body sent out another warning sign.
He was named in the squad for the match against Real Sociedad but, as in the game against Manchester City earlier, ultimately did not take to the field. It was his fourth enforced layoff, and a worrying sign: as the season enters its decisive phase, his physical condition has not improved as expected – all while the weight of the World Cup looms large.
Rumours over his fitness have swirled heavily in recent weeks, culminating in his fifth knee injury absence. This persistent problem, which has plagued him for nearly three months, has not only robbed him of his best form but also seen him miss crucial ties against Manchester City, Atlético Madrid, Real Sociedad and the most recent Champions League clash against Benfica.
