Kylian Mbappe Faces Misdiagnosis at Real Madrid After Wrong Leg Scan During Knee Injury

March 25, 2026: There are growing concerns in the Real Madrid camp regarding Kylian Mbappé and his recent injury situation. The World Cup-winning striker reportedly suffered from a misdiagnosis that could have affected his place in the France national football team for this year’s FIFA World Cup. According to reports from The Athletic, as cited by Goal.com, the Real Madrid medical team accidentally scanned the wrong leg when Mbappe was dealing with a knee problem. Because no issues were found on that leg, he was cleared to play, even though his actual injured leg still had problems.

This error reportedly made Mbappe furious, and it was one of the reasons he dismissed his medical staff at the start of 2024. After that, Dr. Niko Mihic was rehired as head of the medical department, following a reorganization that had already occurred the previous summer. Staff changes in the Real Madrid medical department are not unusual, as officials often face complaints about frequent player injuries. Recently, key players like Jude Bellingham and Álvaro Carreras have missed games due to injury, which highlights the pressure on the club’s medical team.

Mbappe’s recovery and return to form

After the scan on the wrong leg, Mbappe continued to play matches while still experiencing pain. Real Madrid initially described his injury as something to monitor on a game-by-game basis and expected a quick recovery. As a result, Mbappe missed a couple of matches in January and three more at the start of March. Following these absences, some reports suggested he might have a serious cruciate ligament injury. However, he returned to play in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 against Manchester City a week ago, showing that he had recovered enough to compete at the highest level.

Speaking publicly on Monday, Mbappe addressed the concerns about his knee. He said, “My knee is fine. It is getting better. Things are going pretty well, and I know there was a lot of speculation about it and false things were said. That is the life of a top-level athlete. We're used to people saying things without checking them and without any basis.” He also emphasized that he is “100 per cent fit” and has taken the opportunity to get a proper diagnosis in Paris. Together with medical experts there, he followed a plan to get back to his best form at Real Madrid and prepare for the upcoming World Cup.

Now fully fit, Mbappe has been named in the French national team for the upcoming friendlies ahead of the FIFA World Cup. Despite the injury setbacks and the challenges of playing through pain earlier in the season, he has remained at the top of his game. This season alone, he has scored 38 goals and contributed six assists in 35 appearances for Real Madrid, underlining his consistent performance and importance to both club and country.

Even with these difficulties, Mbappe’s professionalism and focus have ensured that he is ready to compete at the highest level again. The World Cup will be a major stage for him, and his full fitness now removes any doubts about his ability to perform for France. Real Madrid fans and football supporters around the world will be watching closely as Mbappe looks to continue his remarkable form and maintain his status as one of the best players in the game.