Real Madrid Injury Updates Mbappe Mastantuono

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Jan 17, 2026, 10:31 PM

real madrid injury updates mbappe mastantuono

The Frenchman, who did not travel to Albacete, trained normally today and is expected to start. Suddenly, Levante’s visit to the Bernabéu this Saturday is no longer a mere formality and instead becomes a snap judgment on Real Madrid’s turbulent start to 2026. A match that is anything but routine. And where will Mbappé be? Most likely in the starting lineup. The Frenchman trained normally this Thursday at Madrid’s Valdebebas training centre after not travelling to Albacete due to a tactical decision, missing Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey debacle firsthand.

With tensions around the club threatening to reach boiling point, and barring any minor setback to his left knee in Friday’s training session, Arbeloa is expected to rely on Mbappé against Levante. The coach himself is under scrutiny after his squad selection for the match at the Belmonte, which left out several key players who were not injured. Alongside the French star, Bellingham, Rodrygo and Tchouameni were all absent. For Mbappé, the situation is an added source of motivation. It is about stepping up as a leader at a moment of maximum pressure, with criticism intensifying around the squad, but also about rediscovering his scoring touch, which has stalled in recent weeks. So far in 2026, he has missed two matches because of that knee sprain, did not travel to Albacete and only played the final 15 minutes of the Spanish Super Cup final, without scoring.

Kylian Mbappe and Franco Mastantuono suffered injury strains in Real Madrid’s win against Villarreal ahead of joining their respective national teams in the international break. Mbappe was substituted in the 83rd minute after he went down in pain within minutes of scoring Madrid’s third goal. The 26-year-old required medical treatment and went straight down the tunnel. “Mbappe has discomfort in his ankle, Mastantuono has an overload,” head coach Xabi Alonso said to broadcasters after the match. “We will see, we will keep monitoring them.” Mastantuono, the 18-year-old summer signing from River Plate, also came off with a suspected hamstring strain during Saturday’s match, in the 75th minute. “We’ll have to see how it develops,” he expanded in his post-match press conference, talking about the injuries.

“If it gets complicated, he won’t be able to play. We’ll see.” It was a big one for Real Madrid against Villarreal on October 4. Xabi Alonso's side won 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to take three vital points ahead of the international break. French forward Kylian Mbappe was on the score sheet again, notching his 14th goal of the season in ten games. However, minutes after his goal, he was substituted, looking as though he had picked up an injury during the buildup to the goal or during it. Mbappe was not the only player to suffer an injury in the game, with 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono also having to come off the field with an injury.

Head coach Xabi Alonso has provided an update on both players as they potentially join their national teams. In an article from The Athletic, it was reported that Xabi Alonso provided an update on both players to the broadcasters. The Spaniard stated that Mbappe was experiencing discomfort in his ankle and Mastantuono had a hamstring strain, and both would be closely monitored. Both players have been two of the best-performing players this season for Los Blancos. On Mastantuono, he was questioned about his status, but he did not reveal much. Not knowing the full extent of the problem.

The Spanish giants are leading the La Liga standings, two points ahead of Barcelona, after winning seven of their first eight matches. Despite last month's 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid, Xabi Alonso's side have impressed under their new manager, who continues to blend his attacking philosophy with the club's talented squad. However, Madrid's momentum has been disrupted by fresh injury concerns. Franco Mastantuono, who joined the club in the summer, has withdrawn from Argentina's under-20 squad after suffering a muscle problem. The 18-year-old midfielder has returned to Madrid for further assessment and could be sidelined for a couple of weeks as a precaution. The bigger concern is Kylian Mbappe.

The French forward limped off late in France's 3-0 World Cup qualifier win over Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes. Mbappe scored the opener and set up Adrien Rabiot's goal before being replaced in the 83rd minute after taking another knock to the same ankle that troubled him against Villarreal before the international break. France manager Didier Deschamps admitted the injury was a concern, telling reporters: "He took a hit on the same ankle. The pain decreases when he is resting. The October international break is coming to an end, with most players returning to their club sides in the next few days. Two Real Madrid players will be joining early, after injury setbacks during international duty.

Forwards Kylian Mbappe and Franco Mastantuono are both heading back to the Spanish capital, with France and Argentina still to play one game. It wasn't the best news to hear for head coach Xabi Alonso, but things may not be as bad as initially thought. In an article by Mario Cortegana and Nnamdi Onyeagwara of The Athletic, the club has given an update on both players as they have returned to Valdebebas for further assessments. French forward Kylian Mbappe started against Azerbaijan on October 9, scoring and assisting. However, he was withdrawn in the 83rd minute after receiving a knock on the same ankle he injured in Real Madrid's last La Liga game against Villarreal. The French football federation issued a statement saying Mbappe has withdrawn from the national team and will head back to Madrid.

They also mentioned he would be able to train with the first team next week, which sounds positive for Alonso ahead of the Getafe game. T Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been ruled out of Saturday’s La Liga clash against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu, according to L’Equipe. Los Blancos will be hoping to get back to winning ways this weekend, but will have to do so without Mbappe, who hasn’t fully recovered from the discomfort in his left knee. The Frenchman isn’t fit enough to play a part against Levante, and the club are unwilling to take any unnecessary risks to avoid making the injury any worse. Mbappe has tried to play through the pain over the past few weeks.

He came on for the final 15 minutes in the 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final defeat against Barcelona, but was left out of the squad that lost to Albacete in the Copa del Rey. This week, Real Madrid will begin their quest for the first official title of 2026. The Spanish giants departed on Tuesday for Saudi Arabia to compete in the Spanish Super Cup, but not before making a disappointing announcement concerning Kylian Mbappe. Just before the players from the Spanish club boarded the flight that will take them to Jeddah, Real Madrid released — through their official social media accounts — the list of 24 players selected... Notably absent from that list was Kylian Mbappe, who will not be available for the Spanish Super Cup due to a knee injury suffered last week. The issue already forced him to miss Sunday’s match against Real Betis in La Liga, and it was widely expected to also rule him out of Thursday’s semifinal clash against Atletico Madrid.

Still, there had been some hope that the French forward could recover in time to feature in a potential final against Barcelona or Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, January 11. That possibility has now been completely ruled out, and Alonso will have to find solutions to replace his best player. Despite being one of the most powerful clubs in the world, Real Madrid currently do not have a wide range of options to replace Kylian Mbappe. Following Endrick’s departure to Olympique Lyonnais, the only other natural center forward on the roster is Gonzalo Garcia, who scored a hat trick in the win over Betis this past weekend. Real Madrid can breathe a little easier after receiving the first medical reports on Kylian Mbappé and Franco Mastantuono, both of whom raised alarms during the current international break. The two players returned early from national team duty due to physical discomfort, but initial tests have ruled out serious injuries.

The timing couldn’t be more delicate. In less than two weeks, Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu (October 26), and the physical condition of key players remains a major talking point among fans. Still, the club remains cautiously optimistic: if recovery goes as expected, both Mbappé and Mastantuono should be available for El Clásico. They’ll continue their rehab alongside Dean Huijsen, who also left the Spain U-21 squad due to muscle fatigue. The defender is likely to miss the next two games — against Getafe and Juventus — but could be back in time for the Barcelona showdown. With El Clásico fast approaching, Real Madrid’s focus is clear: get their stars — especially Mbappé and Mastantuono — back to full strength for a game that could define the trajectory of their season.

The French forward limped off late in France's 3-0 World Cup qualifier win over Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes. Mbappe scored the opener and set up Adrien Rabiot's goal before being replaced in the 83rd minute after taking another knock to the same ankle that troubled him against Villarreal before the international break. France manager Didier Deschamps admitted the injury was a concern, telling reporters: "He took a hit on the same ankle. The pain decreases when he is resting. In football matches, inevitably there is contact. We'll see about the injury later.

He has discomfort and that is not ideal for him." Mbappe, who has been in electrifying form with 14 goals and two assists in 10 appearances for Real Madrid this season, will miss France's next qualifier against Iceland. He will return to Valdebebas for medical tests to determine the extent of the damage. By Matt Law | 16 Oct 2025 14:24, Last updated: 25 Nov 2025 11:48 Real Madrid will be bidding to make it three straight wins in all competitions when they tackle Getafe on Sunday night. Los Blancos entered the October international break off the back of a 3-1 success over Villarreal, and the capital giants are currently top of the La Liga table, two points ahead of second-placed Barcelona.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Real Madrid's injury and suspension news ahead of their fixture with Getafe, who are 11th in the division, picking up 11 points from their first eight games of the... Mendy's 2024-25 campaign ended when he suffered a rupture in his right thigh against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and the France international remains unavailable for selection, but he has returned to... Kylian Mbappe and Franco Mastantuono suffered injury strains in Real Madrid’s win against Villarreal ahead of joining their respective national teams in the international break. Mbappe was substituted in the 83rd minute after he went down in pain within minutes of scoring Madrid’s third goal. The 26-year-old required medical treatment and went straight down the tunnel. “Mbappe has discomfort in his ankle, Mastantuono has an overload,” head coach Xabi Alonso said to broadcasters after the match.

“We will see, we will keep monitoring them.” Mastantuono, the 18-year-old summer signing from River Plate, also came off with a suspected hamstring strain during Saturday’s match, in the 75th minute. “We’ll have to see how it develops,” he expanded in his post-match press conference, talking about the injuries. “If it gets complicated, he won’t be able to play. We’ll see.”

Real Madrid Injury Updates Mbappe Mastantuono

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