Real Madrid Face Setback After Mbappe Knee Sprain

Real Madrid confirmed on Wednesday that Kylian Mbappe has been diagnosed with a sprain in his left knee following medical tests conducted by the club. The statement was brief, careful, and left plenty unanswered, noting only that his recovery would depend on how the injury evolves in the coming days.

While Madrid avoided setting a timeline, sources close to the forward indicated the absence could stretch close to three weeks. That window places several high-stakes matches in doubt and leaves Carlo Ancelotti’s side walking a delicate line as the season resumes.

Mbappe trained as normal earlier in the week, which has added to the uncertainty around when the problem surfaced. An MRI scan later confirmed the issue, forcing the medical team into immediate caution mode.

Key Fixtures Now Hang in the Balance

Real Madrid sit four points behind Barcelona in La Liga and return from the winter break knowing there’s no margin left. A home game against Real Betis was meant to reset the mood. Instead, it arrives clouded by doubt. Kylian Mbappe had been the axis of Madrid’s attack, pulling markers out of shape and giving teammates room to breathe. Without him, that balance feels fragile.

The knock-on effect stretches far beyond the league. The Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Atletico Madrid in Saudi Arabia is suddenly in question. So are clashes with Levante and a Champions League tie against Mbappe’s former club, AS Monaco. Together, they define Madrid’s winter stretch, and the picture now looks far less comfortable.

Mbappe has already struck 18 times in the league this season, sitting alone at the top of the scoring list. Over the calendar year, he matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s club record of 59 goals, a marker few thought would fall so quickly. Since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain, he hasn’t just scored. He’s eased pressure, changed games without warning, and carried belief when matches tightened.

Now his absence deepens a growing problem. Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Federico Valverde, and Brahim Diaz are already sidelined, leaving Carlo Ancelotti short of options across the pitch. Madrid has dealt with injury storms before and survived. The timing hurts, the margin is thin, and the road ahead suddenly looks steeper.