Mbappe and Rodrygo both played injured for Real
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 04.03.26. | 19:20
Brazilian will now miss the World Cup but Mbappe is not risking his participation for France
Real Madrid CF and the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed yesterday that Rodrygo has suffered a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which will rule him out of the upcoming World Cup — and almost certainly a large part of next season as well. However, today reports are emerging that the 25-year-old forward had in fact been playing since 2023 with a partial ACL tear. And he was not the only one in Madrid doing so.
According to The Athletic, after one of his international appearances three years ago and his return to Madrid, Real’s medical staff discovered a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament. Sources familiar with the situation, speaking anonymously, say the club opted at the time for a conservative treatment approach, as a partial tear does not always require surgery.
“It was said then that there was a certain risk of a more serious ACL problem, but that the risk could be mitigated through increased preventive work, such as physiotherapy and specific gym exercises” The Athletic reports.
🚨 The injury that Kylian Mbappé is suffering in his KNEE is MORE SERIOUS than it seems and is worrying Real Madrid. ⚠️🇫🇷
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 4, 2026
The club's diagnosis was 'a sprain,' but the posterior cruciate ligament is on the brink. ⚠️🇫🇷
According to his entourage, he'll need every one of the 100… pic.twitter.com/fxj2HbRggD
On the other hand, the Spanish Cadena SER are reporting that Kylian Mbappe has been playing with a partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.
“The player's left posterior cruciate ligament is at its limit. We're going to call it a sprain because that's what the medical report says, but the injury is really significant. There are 100 days left until the World Cup, and Mbappe can't afford to waste any of them. Those 100 days are crucial for him to fully recover" the journalist Anton Meana revealed.
It was expected that Mbappe would be back in time to face Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League’s Round of 16, but the player's entourage "doesn't agree" with the return timeline set by Real Madrid, especially if the first game ends badly for Real. Mbappe’s priority now is the World Cup which means that he won’t sacrifice playing for Real partially unprepared.
COPA DEL REY - SEMIFINALS (RETURN LEG)
Tuesday
Barcelona - Atletico Madrid 3-0 (2-0)
/Bernal 29, 72, Raphinha 45+5 pen/
Atletico Madrid win 4-3 on aggregate
Wednesday
23.00: (2.15) Sociedad (3.35) Ath.Bilbao (3.45)
***odds are subject to change***