Alarms are ringing in Paris and Madrid — Mbappe is injured!

Kylian Mbappe’s night of triumph didn’t carry over into the next day. Barely a full day after steering France to a 4–0 victory over Ukraine with two goals that sealed their place at the 2026 World Cup, the Real Madrid attacker was forced to exit the national-team camp due to discomfort in his right ankle.

The French Football Federation (FFF) explained that the captain is dealing with inflammation that needs more detailed examinations — tests that will be completed once he’s back in Madrid. The call to release him was made in agreement between the medical staff and coaching team following an initial check.

The problem surfaced in the closing stages against Ukraine, when Mbappe felt pain around the ankle joint. While the injury doesn’t appear to be alarming, the message was straightforward: take no chances. With qualification secured, France opted to send him back to Spain for a deeper evaluation.

That means they’ll face Azerbaijan without their biggest attacking weapon. His absence won’t alter the group standings, but it does force Didier Deschamps to rethink his forward line and manage minutes on what should have been a routine international window.

Mbappe is expected in Madrid this weekend, and depending on how the medical results come back, he could be sidelined for Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture as well. France may already have its ticket to the 2026 tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, but these three withdrawals — Mbappe’s most of all — put a slight damper on an otherwise flawless evening.

More clarity on the ankle inflammation is expected shortly. For now, the priority is straightforward: protect the superstar and ensure he’s fully ready for the challenges ahead.