Real Madrid Announce Major Kylian Mbappe Call for Club World Cup Clash Against Salzburg

Kylian Mbappé will not feature in Real Madrid's final Club World Cup group stage encounter against Red Bull Salzburg.

The France international was admitted to hospital during the summer following a gastroenteritis diagnosis and has not yet appeared in any matches in the United States, despite returning to solo training sessions this week.

Coach Xabi Alonso had expressed optimism that Mbappé would recover sufficiently to participate against Salzburg, however he was excluded from the match squad after insufficient progress in his fitness recovery.

Real Madrid's medical team remains concerned about the summer temperatures, recognizing that the extreme heat could further complicate the player's rehabilitation. The club is prioritizing caution regarding the 26-year-old's health.

"It was encouraging to see him back on the field, though it marked his first day wearing boots and doing light running," Alonso commented when revealing his squad selection. "His condition has improved, but he hasn't recovered sufficiently.

"He still lacks the physical readiness required for the competitive intensity we'll face tomorrow. Following our post-training discussion, he preferred to continue his recovery to ensure availability for potential advancement to the round of 16. He remains in the rehabilitation phase and isn't match-ready for tomorrow's game."

Madrid have not yet secured their knockout stage qualification following their opening draw with Al Hilal, though Alonso's team controls their advancement fate while leading the group before the final fixtures.

A tie against the Austrian club would secure progression, while a win would clinch first place. Even a loss might suffice for Madrid, provided Al Hilal loses to Pachuca to ensure their advancement.