Real Madrid will begin the La Liga restart without Kylian Mbappe after he sustained a knee injury that will rule him out of Sunday’s meeting with Real Betis.
The club confirmed on Wednesday that Mbappe has suffered a sprain to his left knee following medical tests carried out earlier in the day.
The France international has been managing discomfort in the knee for several weeks, with the issue now serious enough to force him out of Madrid’s immediate plans.
Mbappe did not take part in training on Wednesday, despite having appeared in an open session with supporters a day earlier.
Madrid return to domestic action this weekend after the winter break, hosting Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu in their first league match since before Christmas.
The timing of the injury also casts doubt on Mbappe’s involvement in the Spanish Super Cup, with Madrid set to face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals on January 8.
The final against either Barcelona or Athletic Club is scheduled for three days later.
Madrid will monitor Mbappe’s recovery closely over the coming days before making a final decision on his availability for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
He has been a central figure in Madrid’s campaign, scoring 29 goals in 24 appearances across all competitions.
The Frenchman has missed just one match in the entire campaign, sitting out December’s Champions League defeat to Manchester City as an unused substitute.
Mbappe also ended 2025 in historic fashion, scoring his 59th goal of the calendar year in the win over Sevilla to equal Cristiano Ronaldo’s long-standing club record.
His absence will be a significant blow for manager Xabi Alonso, who has built Madrid’s attacking structure around the forward.
Madrid are already dealing with defensive issues, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal all sidelined.
The injury list has placed additional strain on a squad navigating a demanding schedule across domestic and international competitions.
Despite those challenges, Madrid currently sit second in La Liga after 18 matches. They trail leaders Barcelona by four points heading into the second half of the season.
How Madrid cope without their most prolific attacker, even in the short term, could prove decisive in both the league and the Super Cup.
