- Kylian Mbappé was ruled out of Real Madrid’s Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica after further assessment of his knee injury
- Madrid held a 1-0 first-leg lead from Lisbon, but Mbappé’s absence dealt a blow to their attacking strength at the Santiago Bernabéu
- The French striker, who led the competition with 13 goals, had been managing persistent knee pain before being withdrawn to prevent further damage
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé will miss Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica due to a knee injury, AFP learned on Tuesday from a source close to the Spanish club.
The France international, who is Madrid’s leading scorer this season, has been managing persistent knee pain in recent weeks. However, it has now been decided that he will not feature in the decisive fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu. The development confirms an earlier report by French sports daily L’Équipe.
Madrid hold a slender 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Lisbon last week, putting them in a favourable position ahead of the return encounter in the Spanish capital. That match was overshadowed by allegations of racial abuse directed at Real winger Vinícius Júnior, an incident that drew widespread condemnation.
Earlier on Tuesday, Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa had suggested that Mbappé would be available for selection. “He is prepared to play,” Arbeloa said, adding that he valued the forward’s commitment in continuing to compete despite discomfort. However, following further assessment, the decision was taken to withdraw him from the squad in order to avoid aggravating the injury.
Mbappé has been instrumental in Madrid’s European campaign this season. He currently leads the Champions League scoring charts with 13 goals, underlining his importance to the team’s attacking threat. Despite this prolific form, the 27-year-old has been struggling with a ligament issue affecting the outside of his left knee, a problem that reportedly dates back to before the Christmas break.
Concerns over his fitness were heightened during Real’s 2-1 defeat to Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday, when Mbappé appeared restricted in his movement and was unable to exert his usual influence on proceedings.
His absence represents a significant setback for Madrid as they seek to secure progression to the next stage of Europe’s elite club competition. Nevertheless, with a first-leg advantage and home support behind them, the Spanish giants will hope to complete the task against their Portuguese opponents without their talismanic forward.
Further updates on Mbappé’s condition are expected in the coming days as the club assess the extent of the injury and outline a recovery timeline.