Kylian Mbappé has denied reports suggesting his knee injury was misdiagnosed after Real Madrid’s medical staff allegedly examined the wrong knee while attempting to treat the problem.
A journalist for France’s RMC Sport, followed by several Spanish media outlets, had claimed on Tuesday that the club failed to detect a partial ligament tear in his left knee in December after conducting a scan on his healthy right knee instead.
Mbappé played three matches before the injury was formally confirmed, with Madrid issuing a medical report on Dec. 31 diagnosing a knee sprain. An update was released this month after the forward travelled to Paris for a second opinion, which ruled him out for more than three weeks.
“The information that [Madrid] examined the wrong knee is not true,” Mbappé said on Wednesday, while on international duty with France ahead of a friendly against Brazil. “Perhaps I bear some indirect responsibility for the situation, because when you don’t communicate about what you have and what is going on, it leaves the door open to interpretation, and everyone is rushing to fill in the blanks.
“Now, with Real Madrid, we’ve always had a communication that was quite clear, whether it was when I started my rehabilitation in Madrid, or when I was in Paris, where I was accompanied by the doctor, a physiotherapist and the club’s physical trainer, where we worked from Paris, so there is no problem with that.
“We’re in an important moment in the season. The team has been playing well without me. When I got injured, I wasn’t available and people thought I was the only solution, but it wasn’t like that. The important thing is the team.”
Mbappé initially sustained the injury during a match against Celta Vigo on Dec. 7 but still featured in three fixtures before the end of 2025 against Alavés, Talavera and Sevilla prior to confirmation of the sprain.
After featuring only briefly in the Supercopa de España, he returned to action across several matches in January and February. Real Madrid later stated that consultations with French medical specialists supported the “conservative treatment” approach adopted by the club.
Following a rest period, Mbappé made his comeback as a substitute in last week’s Champions League second leg against Manchester City and also appeared in the weekend derby against Atlético Madrid.
“I’ve never been someone not as a person nor as a player who lives with regrets,” Mbappé said. “I focus on the present and the immediate future. Right now, I feel good, especially with both my knees, which is important to me. That’s partly thanks to my club, who have taken good care of my fitness.
“I’m very happy to be here, available, and fully fit. I’m ready to play [against Brazil] and to start if needs be.”
Earlier this week, the France captain also told Spanish outlet AS that “some false things have been said” regarding the knee injury that limited his recent involvement for Real Madrid.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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