Mbappe's Road to Recovery: When Will Real Madrid's Star Striker Make His Comeback?

Real Madrid's injury woes have reached unprecedented levels this campaign, with continuous setbacks creating headaches for Xabi Alonso.

The Real Madrid boss has faced challenges not just from managing big personalities and intense expectations, but from a relentless wave of fitness problems throughout his roster. Regrettably for the Spanish tactician, yet another medical concern has emerged as the calendar year draws to a close.

Kylian Mbappé has become the newest player to join the medical bay, and the club's star striker will be deeply missed in the Spanish capital considering Madrid's heavy dependence on his scoring prowess. During this critical juncture for Alonso, losing such a key player could be devastating.

Here's the most recent update on the injury status of Madrid's prolific goalscorer.

What Injury Does Mbappé Have?

Medical imaging has shown ligament injury in Mbappé's left knee according to sources—a problem the 27-year-old has been managing through multiple fixtures. Rather than requiring surgery, he's anticipated to heal through rest and rehabilitation.

Madrid have officially acknowledged the forward's injury but only described it as a knee sprain, without specifically mentioning ligament involvement. The club's announcement didn't specify the anticipated recovery timeline, though the World Cup champion is facing time away from action.

When Will Mbappé Return From Injury?

Sources indicate that Mbappé's knee problem isn't overly severe but will keep him out for no less than three weeks. With fixtures arriving rapidly in January, this means he'll be absent for at least five contests and possibly six.

A comeback date could tentatively be marked for Jan. 25 when Madrid travel to face Villarreal in La Liga, though he's guaranteed to miss the Spanish Super Cup. Los Blancos meet Atlético Madrid in the tournament's semifinal on Jan. 8 and hope to secure a showdown with Athletic Club or Barcelona in the final three days afterward.

Mbappé will also be unavailable for domestic fixtures against Real Betis and Levante, the Copa del Rey round of 16 tie, and the second-to-last matchday of Champions League group stage action.

With mounting pressure on Alonso's position and the team's January performances viewed as pivotal to his tenure, Mbappé's absence represents the most unwelcome development possible. He's netted an impressive 29 goals in all competitions for the Spanish powerhouse this season despite experiencing several challenging months at the Santiago Bernabéu.