The French striker said he has “100 per cent recovered” from a lingering knee injury and will be able to make a full return.
Published March 24, 2026
France striker Kylian Mbappé has said he has fully recovered from his knee injury and hopes to play in all of Real Madrid’s remaining matches as the season prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-old missed four league games this year due to a knee problem that started last season, but he came off the bench in the 64th minute in Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico on Sunday.
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Mbappé has been named in the national squad for a friendly against Brazil on March 26th, and three days later against Colombia in the United States, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico from June 11th to July 19th.
“I have recovered 100 percent,” Mbappe told online sports newspaper AS.
“I have prepared for the last two World Cups in the best possible way by playing for the club, scoring goals, winning titles and fighting until the last moment. I will do the same this year and be at my best.”
The forward bagged a hat-trick and eight goals in France’s loss to Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar to win the competition’s Golden Boot award.
He said reports about his recovery were speculation and that “some incorrect things have been said” about his return as world champion in 1998 and 2018.
“This is the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without checking the facts or having any basis for it,” he said.
France will be in Group I at the World Cup, where they will face Norway, Senegal and the winner of the intercontinental play-off.
