Mbappe on the Edge: Real Madrid’s Clasico Worries Mount as France Duty Looms
10 October 2025
Madrid’s Worries Over Mbappe Ahead of Clasico
In Spain, a report has amplified Real Madrid’s concerns about Kylian Mbappe, the team’s star and captain of the France national team, ahead of the looming Clasico against Barcelona.
AS on Friday carried a headline translating to “Caution required regarding Mbappe,” noting that Madrid’s fears about his participation with France appear quite reasonable, given worries about his form and fitness.
Mbappe has been a standout since the season began, with 14 goals in 10 games and accounting for 54% of Madrid’s goals under coach Xabi Alonso.
The Spanish outlet warned that Mbappe is no ordinary player, and the Clasico against Barcelona, scheduled for October 26, looms large on the horizon.
On the show El Chiringuito, pundits pointed out that Real Madrid is doing things to be envied, and warned that the club will bear the consequences rather than the national team.
If we were Mbappe, we might refrain from playing for France; some analysts say he’s not reckless, but the situation would still sting the player.
Mbappe told a press conference on Thursday that he is ready to play for France and that Didier Deschamps also wants him involved, despite two consecutive days without full team training since joining the squad on Monday.
The French captain is dealing with ankle pain picked up while scoring in Madrid’s 3-1 win over Villarreal at the Bernabéu last Saturday, a result that kept the title chase tight.
The French skipper also said that joining up with the France camp this October did not cause problems with Real Madrid, unlike the clashes that erupted between Paris Saint‑Germain and the French Football Federation after injuries to Dembele and Doye in September.
In his press conference, Mbappe said, “There have always been tensions between clubs and national teams, because clubs pay salaries, but for players, wearing the national jersey is priceless. Madrid has been clear: I have an ankle issue, but I have a strong desire to play, and nothing will stop me.”
France currently top Group D with six points, followed by Iceland on three, while Azerbaijan and Ukraine are tied on one.
France could clinch World Cup 2026 qualification with two wins in October, starting by hosting Azerbaijan at the Parc des Princes before a trip to Iceland on Monday.
Mbappe began his international career in 2017, has 52 goals in 92 appearances, and helped Les Bleus win the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League, with a bronze in this year’s Nations League 2025.
He has served as France captain since early 2023 after the retirements of Hugo Lloris and Raphaël Varane, and has superseded older stars like Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, while Paul Pogba has faded from the spotlight after a suspension.
At club level, the French star rose from Monaco’s academy to the first team, contributing to Monaco’s Ligue 1 triumph in 2017 under Leonardo Jardim.
Mbappe scored 16 goals in 41 appearances for Monaco before Paris Saint-Germain signed him in 2017 for €180 million, making him the most expensive French player in history.
Over seven years at the Parc des Princes, Mbappe captured all domestic trophies—league titles, domestic cups, and league cups—and scored 175 goals in 205 appearances before moving to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Yet the biggest dream remained elusive as he finished as runner-up in the 2020 Champions League final against Bayern Munich, a match played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since arriving at Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024, Mbappe has tallied 40 goals in 42 games and helped the club lift the UEFA Super Cup, sealing a trophy-rich start to his Madrid chapter.
