Mbappe Injury Scare: France Manager Reveals Truth Behind Star's Shocking Early Exit
What began as an exceptional evening for France took a disappointing turn when Kylian Mbappé re-injured the ankle problem that had sidelined him from practice throughout the past week, as confirmed by Didier Deschamps.
With approximately 10 minutes remaining in Les Bleus' encounter against Azerbaijan, Mbappé collapsed in discomfort, grasping the identical ankle he had hurt during Real Madrid's 3–1 triumph over Villarreal prior to linking up with France for the October international break.
The French striker, who received brief attention from the national squad's medical team, signaled to Deschamps requesting substitution. Mbappé hobbled off the field in the 83rd minute and proceeded directly to the tunnel.
After the game, Deschamps stated: "He took another knock to the identical ankle. The discomfort subsides during rest periods. In matches, physical contact is unavoidable. We will evaluate it subsequently. He experiences discomfort that isn't optimal for his condition."
This complication follows Deschamps revealing his captain had arrived at camp with a "minor issue" that prevented him from participating in most training sessions during the week. However, the France manager maintained the injury wasn't "a significant obstacle" and consequently selected Mbappé for the Azerbaijan fixture.
The Real Madrid star maintained his scoring form for both club and nation, putting France ahead just before the interval with a spectacular strike that featured him weaving past six defenders to secure a 1–0 advantage.
Mbappé subsequently provided the assist for Adrien Rabiot's strike in the 69th minute. France ultimately prevailed 3–0, maintaining their flawless record in 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
Injury Could Hamper Mbappé's Blistering Start
Mbappé currently ranks among the world's most prolific players, positioning him as an early contender for the 2026 Ballon d'Or recognition. The 26-year-old has accumulated 17 goals and four assists across 13 appearances for club and country during the 2025–26 campaign.
The striker has scored in 10 consecutive matches. Indeed, Mbappé was only prevented from scoring against Mallorca this season; in every other appearance for Real Madrid or France, he found the net.
An injury at this juncture would be particularly unfortunate for Mbappé given his commanding season start. While France could likely cope against Iceland in his absence, Real Madrid faces a challenging schedule including fixtures against Getafe, Juventus and Barcelona to conclude October.