The Spanish newspaper AS reported that Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has refused knee surgery to alleviate his pain, preferring conservative treatment. The reason? The 2026 World Cup.
Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa announced before their last match against Benfica that Mbappé would be sidelined indefinitely after suffering a recurrence of knee pain.
According to the latest report, the only definitive solution to the problem would be surgery for the French international. However, he completely rejects the idea because it would mean a lengthy absence from the pitch and consequently, his absence from the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Ultimately, Mbappé has opted for conservative treatment. He is also consulting with specialists from outside Real Madrid – with the club’s approval – to find an effective treatment to resolve his current issue.
There is a firm agreement between Real Madrid and Mbappé that he will not push himself and will only return to the pitch when the pain has completely subsided, to avoid a repeat of what happened last month that aggravated the injury.
Mbappé was injured on December 7th and was initially expected to be sidelined for up to two months. However, the congested fixture schedule forced him to return after just a few days, and he played for the last two months despite the knee pain before it finally flared up again before the Benfica match.
