27-year-old Kylian Mbappé has been experiencing discomfort in his left knee since early December. Despite this, he maintained a consistent rate of appearances and goalscoring efficiency until he missed two of Real Madrid’s matches last week – including the shock 0-1 home defeat to Getafe on Monday night.
No definitive timeline has been set for his return – and Real Madrid are in desperate need of his services, with the season entering its critical phase.
How Long Has Mbappé’s Knee Issue Been Ongoing?
Mbappé’s discomfort in his left knee has persisted for nearly three months. The problem first emerged on December 7, following Real Madrid’s 0-2 home La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo. At the time, sources from the club’s coaching staff revealed that Mbappé had picked up an injury after a blow to his knee during that match.
Three days later, Mbappé was not given any game time in Real Madrid’s Champions League home fixture against Manchester City. However, he played the full 90 minutes in all three of Real Madrid’s remaining matches in 2025, ultimately equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid.
Ahead of the Manchester City match at the Bernabéu, reports out of Madrid stated that Mbappé was a major doubt for the fixture – but the reason cited was a fractured ring finger on his left hand, not the knee injury.
The day before the match, the narrative shifted. Mbappé was reported to be suffering from discomfort in his left leg muscle, with multiple informed sources confirming the 27-year-old was experiencing pain in his knee.
Mbappé was still named in the squad to face Pep Guardiola’s side, but did not feature in the 1-2 home defeat, even as multiple Spanish media outlets reported that then-Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso’s job was on the line in that match.
Three days later, Mbappé featured in the Copa del Rey, helping Real Madrid secure a 3-2 away win over Tercera Federación side Talavera. The match sparked widespread discussion, including within the club, with many questioning whether Real Madrid were deliberately managing his minutes to maximise his chances of breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2013 record for the most goals scored in a calendar year.
On New Year’s Eve, 24 days after Mbappé’s injury was first identified, Real Madrid issued their first public statement on his condition. The statement only confirmed that Mbappé had been diagnosed with a sprain to his left knee, adding: “We will continue to closely monitor his recovery progress.”
Mbappé was ruled out of the La Liga home fixture against Real Betis on January 4, with his availability for the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia just days later also in doubt.
Mbappé did not travel with the squad from Madrid to Jeddah. Real Madrid left two dedicated physiotherapists behind to oversee his rehabilitation, in a bid to maximise the chances of him being fit to feature in the Spanish Super Cup final on January 11 – provided Real Madrid could advance past the semi-final and beat city rivals Atlético Madrid.
Real Madrid won that semi-final 2-1, and Mbappé flew to join up with the squad, coming off the bench to play 15 minutes in the final, which the club ultimately lost 2-3 to bitter rivals Barcelona.
Xabi Alonso was sacked the following day, less than eight months after taking the job.
So How Long Will He Be Sidelined For?
That is the big question.
Real Madrid have taken an extremely cautious treatment plan, including reducing Mbappé’s training load. But aside from his substitute appearance against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, he has played the full 90 minutes in every match he has featured in.
Naturally, Real Madrid are eager for him to return as soon as possible. Sources at the club have revealed that they do not believe Mbappé requires surgery – a sentiment also hinted at in the club’s previous statement, which placed emphasis on a "conservative rehabilitation programme".
According to sources in Madrid, there is currently no estimated timeline for Mbappé’s next appearance. A member of staff at the club’s training ground stated that Mbappé sometimes feels completely fine, and other times is in excruciating pain.
This may explain the treatment approach the club has taken so far, and why the French international has been able to feature multiple times since the injury first emerged in December last year.
It remains to be seen whether the club will alter its treatment plan, given the injury is yet to fully heal.
With less than four months to go until France’s World Cup opening match against the newly crowned Africa Cup of Nations champions Senegal at MetLife Stadium in New York, any elite international player would be concerned about their fitness for the tournament in this situation – and this has become an increasingly discussed topic within the walls of the Bernabéu.
However, a dressing room source stated on Tuesday that Mbappé is now feeling much calmer about the current situation, as he has a clearer plan in place.
On the subject of whether surgery is required, two leading medical experts consulted by The Athletic stated that if a knee sprain shows no signs of recovery, surgery can be considered to avoid the existing issue worsening or causing further damage. However, they were in agreement that this is not standard practice, and does not appear to be appropriate in this instance.
What is the standard medical approach for this type of knee sprain, and is surgery typically required?Juan Ayala, Former President of the Spanish Society of Sports Traumatology and Head of the Knee and Sports Traumatology Department at Hospital San Rafael de Madrid:
In the vast majority of cases, surgery is not necessary.If it is a mild injury (Grade 1), such as a ligament strain, or a moderate injury (Grade 2), such as a partial tear, surgery is not usually performed, with conservative treatment used instead. A Grade 1 sprain requires a minimum of three weeks of rest, while a Grade 2 sprain requires six weeks of rest. However, if a player continues to compete while injured, these issues often become chronic, and the prognosis worsens. If the injury is not properly managed, instability can develop, ultimately requiring surgery.
Diego García Germán, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Former Team Doctor for the Spanish Delegation at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy:
If Mbappé has been able to continue playing consistently, then it is most likely that he is only dealing with a mild injury.It could be that the injury is yet to fully heal, or that the conservative treatment has not yielded the desired results. If it does not heal on its own, surgery may be an option, but it is not common for mild injuries.This injury is likely a mild one, but more problematic than previous issues he has sustained. From what we have seen on the pitch, my impression is that the severity of the injury has not prevented him from playing, and he is likely only experiencing some pain right now. Given that conservative treatment is being used, we expect the injury should heal on its own, so it is vital to give it time to recover.
