France Release Kylian Mbappé After Ankle Concern, Striker Heads Back to Real Madrid

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has been released from international duty following medical concerns over his ankle. 

The French Football Federation confirmed that the 26-year-old striker experienced persistent swelling and discomfort after France’s 4–0 victory over Ukraine, in which he scored twice to secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Despite reaching a personal milestone of 400 career goals, Mbappé’s celebrations were cut short when pain in his right ankle intensified. After consultation between France coach Didier Deschamps and Real Madrid’s medical staff, the decision was made to send him back to Spain for further evaluation and scans.

The injury is not yet classified as serious, but France opted to act cautiously, especially since their upcoming fixture against Azerbaijan holds no bearing on qualification. Reports suggest that Mbappé’s availability for Real Madrid’s next matches will depend on the outcome of medical tests.

This setback comes at a crucial time for both club and country, as Mbappé continues to chase records—he is now just two goals shy of surpassing Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time leading scorer.