Mbappé Declares Full Recovery, Eyes Real Madrid Success and 2026 World Cup
France captain Kylian Mbappé has confirmed he has fully recovered from a knee injury and is focused on contributing to Real Madrid’s season and preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-ancient forward, who joined Real Madrid in 2024, missed four league games earlier this year due to a lingering knee issue sustained last season. He recently featured off the bench in Real Madrid’s 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid on Sunday. Al Jazeera reported on the recovery.
Mbappé has been included in the French national team squad for upcoming friendlies against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia on March 29, both to be held in the United States, a co-host nation for the June 11-July 19 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. Al Jazeera
“I have made a 100 percent recovery,” Mbappé stated to the online sports newspaper AS. “I prepared for the last two World Cups in the best way possible, which is to play, score goals, win titles, and fight until the last minute for my club, and this year I am going to do the same to arrive in top form.”
Mbappé was the Golden Boot winner at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scoring eight goals, including a hat-trick in the final against Argentina. Al Jazeera
He acknowledged that some reports regarding his recovery have been inaccurate. “It’s the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without verifying them or having any basis in fact,” he said.
France’s World Cup Group
France is drawn into Group I for the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Norway, Senegal, and the winner of an intercontinental playoff. Al Jazeera
Kylian Mbappé: Career Highlights
Kylian Mbappé Lottin (born December 20, 1998) currently plays as a forward for Real Madrid and captains the France national team. He began his senior career with Monaco in 2015, winning the Ligue 1 title in the 2016-17 season. In 2017, he joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan, later making the move permanent for a reported €180 million. Wikipedia
- Current Team: Real Madrid
- National Team: France (Captain)
- Major Honors:
- FIFA World Cup Winner (2018)
- FIFA World Cup Runner-up (2022)
- UEFA Nations League Winner (2021)
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Winner (2016)
With PSG, Mbappé secured six Ligue 1 titles and four Coupes de France, including a domestic quadruple in the 2019-20 season. Wikipedia