Overview
- Real Madrid’s medical bulletin confirms a left-knee sprain for Kylian Mbappé and rules him out of the Jan. 4 LaLiga match against Real Betis, with no official timetable for return.
- Multiple outlets report medical estimates of at least three weeks out, placing the Jan. 8 Supercopa de España semifinal against Atlético in serious doubt and potentially affecting later January fixtures.
- An AFP-cited source close to the player says the discomfort involves the external ligament of the knee, a detail that complements the club’s statement.
- The absence removes Madrid’s leading scorer and primary threat, with Mbappé on 18 league goals and 29 across competitions, roughly half of the team’s total this season.
- With Endrick loaned to Lyon and Brahim Díaz away at the Africa Cup of Nations, reports point to academy striker Gonzalo García and a reconfigured front line with Vinícius, Rodrygo and Bellingham as short-term solutions.