The Secret Struggle Behind Kylian Mbappé’s 38 Goals This Season

Madrid—While the Bernabéu has been roaring over Kylian Mbappé’s 38-goal explosion in 33 Real Madrid appearances this season, the French striker has been waging a silent battle against a knee problem that first flared on 7 December against Celta Vigo.

What began as a manageable knock has evolved into a persistent issue that has shadowed every training session and match-day warm-up. Club medical staff confirmed the injury never fully healed, forcing Mbappé to rely on painkillers in recent weeks to maintain his blistering scoring pace. The decision to sit out the Champions League trip to Benfica last week, however, sounded fresh alarms inside Valdebebas.

Spanish daily AS reports that Mbappé has categorically ruled out going under the knife, unwilling to risk a lengthy rehabilitation that could collide with the fast-approaching World Cup. Instead, he has chosen a conservative, closely monitored treatment plan drawn up by Madrid’s in-house doctors, with the club open to bringing in external specialists to explore every short-term avenue that keeps him on the pitch without further jeopardising the joint.

The injury already forced a recalibration of the club’s winter calendar. Initially earmarked for a three-week rest period, Mbappé pushed to travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia for the Spanish Super Cup, appearing as a second-half substitute in the final defeat to Barcelona despite not being at full fitness.

With no definitive return date set, Real Madrid’s priority is to guard against another relapse. The forward’s 38 goals have come at a physical cost: several minor setbacks have punctuated the campaign, each one chipping away at the margin for error as the season enters its decisive phase.

For now, Mbappé and the medical department walk a tightrope—managing pain, preserving explosiveness, and hoping the balance holds long enough for him to lead the line when the world’s biggest stage comes calling.