Real Madrid have been dealt a double injury blow in the ongoing international break with key duo Kylian Mbappe and Franco Mastantuono suffering setbacks while away with their respective national teams.
Mbappe has been ruled out of France’s World Cup qualifier against Iceland on Monday after suffering an ankle injury.
The 25-year-old had earlier starred in Les Bleus’ 3–0 win over Azerbaijan on Friday, scoring a brilliant solo goal and assisting Adrien Rabiot before limping off in the 83rd minute.
That issue appeared to aggravate an existing ankle problem that also saw him substituted during Real Madrid’s recent La Liga win over Villarreal and Didier Deschamps confirmed after the game that Mbappe had hurt the same ankle in both fixtures.
While the France boss initially declined to give a recovery timeline, the French Football Federation later announced that the captain would miss Monday’s match in Reykjavik and return to Madrid for further assessment.
Madrid’s concerns deepened further when Argentina revealed that promising teenager Franco Mastantuono had withdrawn from their squad with a muscle overload in his left thigh.
The 18-year-old, who became the second-youngest player to score for Los Blancos in La Liga this century, behind only Endrick, has made nine appearances for Xabi Alonso’s side this season.
At the time of writing, neither Madrid nor the respective national teams have provided a clear indication of how long the pair will be sidelined.
The Spanish giants face a crucial run of fixtures after the international break, starting with a trip to Getafe before taking on Juventus in the Champions League and hosting Barcelona in the season’s first Clasico on October 26.
Olaoluwa is a dedicated sports writer and passionate football enthusiast with two years of experience. Known for his keen analysis and commitment to the game, his work reflects a deep love for football, blending strategic insight with the emotional moments that make it a global passion. He is focused on honing his skills and consistently aims to inspire and engage readers through every article he writes.
