Mbappé Shines Bright, Then an Ankle Wrench: France’s Win Masks a Puzzling Injury Trend

Mbappé Shines Before an Ankle Setback

Kylian Mbappé, France's star, once again sparked concern as he featured for the national team against Azerbaijan in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

France secured a 3-0 victory, with Mbappé opening the scoring and setting up Adrien Rabiot for the second, keeping Les Bleus on track in the campaign.

However, Marca reported that Mbappé left the field with ankle pain a few minutes before full time, forcing his substitution in the 83rd minute—the same ankle that had troubled him at Real Madrid a week earlier.

He signaled to the coaching staff that he could not continue, and Deschamps agreed to replace him to protect him for upcoming matches.

Injury History and the Road to 2026

The worry over his ankles is part of a longer pattern of muscular injuries that have punctuated Mbappé's career, affecting both club and country during key moments.

Mbappé's injury troubles began in 2019 with a thigh muscle strain that kept him out for weeks. Since then, muscle injuries have recurrently interrupted his rhythm, often at critical junctures such as Champions League eliminations or major tournaments with France.

Euro 2020 saw him appear fatigued after a demanding season, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar featured outstanding football but clear late-muscle fatigue in the knockout stages.

More recently, the 2023-2024 campaign with Real Madrid raised concerns as the club's medical staff sought to manage his workload following the transfer.

France's medical team, alongside Real Madrid's, has worked to balance his minutes to prevent burnout, with Deschamps sometimes opting to substitute him by mutual agreement with the clubs.

Madrid Era and the Ballon d'Or Dream

Beyond the injuries, Mbappé has excelled since joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2024, quickly adapting to the Spanish capital.

In his early appearances he formed a dangerous trio with Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham, reviving Real Madrid's attacking tempo and helping the club reach high goals across competitions.

Last season he scored 44 goals across all competitions and won the European Golden Boot, underscoring his ongoing influence at the highest level.

His impact extends to big games, including Clasico clashes against Barcelona and pivotal Champions League ties against top teams like Manchester City, reinforcing Madrid's strategy to build a golden generation under Florentino Pérez.

With performances of this caliber, Mbappé appears on a path toward becoming one of Real Madrid's all-time greats and a leading candidate for the Ballon d'Or in the near future.

Aiming for the French Century

Off the field, Mbappé continues to chase France's all-time top scorer record, closing the gap to Olivier Giroud to four goals, a target within sight as his speed and technique remain elite.

His move to Madrid has amplified the global spotlight, and Real Madrid's project to assemble a new generation of champions around him remains a central theme of European football.

Yet the recurring injuries remind fans and teams that even the fastest players must manage wear and tear; the key is sustainable excellence over a long career.

Bottom line: Mbappé's blend of pace, skill and ambition keeps him at the heart of both France and Madrid's ambitions, even if the ankle occasionally acts like a stubborn defender.

If injuries were goals, Mbappé would lead the season's chart; and if pace could be bottled, his would be the quickest to empty the bottle. In short: stay tuned, the saga continues.