The French national team announced on Friday that Kylian Mbappé had left the Les Bleus camp and returned to Real Madrid after suffering an injury.
The statement revealed that the 25-year-old was suffering from inflammation in his right ankle, so the medical staff preferred to rest him and send him back to Madrid to avoid aggravating the injury and a prolonged absence from the pitch.
However, according to Spanish media, Mbappé is not suffering from any injury, and the talk of an ankle injury is merely a “diplomatic excuse” to leave the French national team and prepare for the demanding schedule with Real Madrid.
Radio Monte Carlo reported that Mbappé faked the injury because he sees no point in playing in the final World Cup 2026 qualifier against Kazakhstan, as Didier Deschamps’ team had already secured qualification for the tournament after their last match against Ukraine.
There is widespread discontent among French fans regarding Mbappé’s departure. Many are unhappy with the manner of his exit, viewing it as an abdication of responsibility and a prioritization of personal goals over national pride and representing France with dignity.
Mbappé scored two goals and provided an assist in Thursday’s match against Ukraine, reaching 400 career goals. However, the player himself considers this number “not impressive” and believes he needs to double it to truly become a football legend.
