Real Madrid Dealt Brutal Kylian Mbappé Injury Blow—Report

Madrid—Real Madrid’s pursuit of a 15th European Cup has been rocked by news that star forward Kylian Mbappé will miss Wednesday’s decisive Champions League knockout-phase playoff return leg against Benfica after his lingering knee complaint finally forced him to stop, according to a report in France’s L’Équipe.

Mbappé, 27, has been managing what club medical staff describe as a recurrent knee problem since December, a situation exacerbated by a congested calendar that included the Spanish Super Cup final and the first-leg draw in Lisbon. The forward attempted to train on Tuesday but pulled up short, prompting immediate scans that revealed sufficient damage to warrant an estimated 10-day shutdown. Los Blancos have not yet released an official bulletin, yet L’Équipe states the France captain has been warned that continuing to play through what he called “pain I have never experienced before in my career” risks a more serious setback that could derail both Madrid’s season and France’s 2026 World Cup preparations.

The timing is especially cruel for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Wednesday’s tie is delicately poised after a 1-1 result at the Estádio da Luz, and elimination would send the Bernabéo outfit into the Europa League. Domestically, Madrid trail Barcelona by a single point in La Liga and face Getafe and Celta Vigo within the next fortnight; further slips could end their title hopes before Mbappé is due to return. Should Madrid advance past Benfica, the round-of-16 first leg falls just outside the projected recovery window, leaving a slim chance the forward could be available.

Replacing Mbappé’s output is a herculean task. The summer signing leads the squad with 38 goals in all competitions, 26 more than nearest challenger Vinícius Júnior. Rodrygo Goes, the natural deputy, is unavailable after the red card he collected in the final league-phase match against Borussia Dortmund. That leaves 21-year-old academy graduate Gonzalo García as the probable starter. García, a classic penalty-box No. 9, has scored 10 times since his Club World Cup breakthrough last July but is still searching for his first Champions League goal. Wednesday’s high-stakes stage offers both an examination and an opportunity to etch his name into Madrid folklore.

The club must now balance progress on two fronts without their marquee attraction, knowing that anything less than victory against Benfica could define the remainder of the campaign.