France’s Kylian Mbappe’s absence is a blow to the Club World Cup, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will be one of the elite events in soccer and rival competitions like the Champions League and Premier League in popularity and value. File
| Photo Credit: AP
Kylian Mbappe was discharged from the hospital on Thursday (June 19, 2025) after experiencing an acute case of gastroenteritis, and it was not known when he will be able to play for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup.
Mbappe missed the Spanish giant’s opening game of the tournament — a surprise 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal in Miami — because of a fever.
Coach Xabi Alonso said the France international was in “rough shape” and hadn’t been able to train for days. His illness casts doubt over what part he might be able to play in the monthlong tournament in the United States, with Madrid facing Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday (June 22, 2025).
“Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team’s activity,” Madrid said in a statement.
Gastroenteritis is also known as stomach flu and symptoms can include vomiting and diarrhoea.
Mbappe’s absence is a blow to the Club World Cup, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes will be one of the elite events in soccer and rival competitions like the Champions League and Premier League in popularity and value.
After Lionel Messi, Mbappe is arguably the biggest star in the show, with Madrid one of the favourites to lift the trophy in the inaugural edition of the tournament.
But a crowd of more than 62,000 at Hard Rock Stadium missed out on a rare chance to see him in person in the U.S. when he was unavailable for Madrid’s first game at the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins on Wednesday (June 18, 2025).
Alonso missed him, too, in what has been a difficult start to the tournament for the team’s new coach. Madrid was underwhelming against Al Hilal – Saudi Arabia’s most successful team – and missed a 92nd-minute penalty to win the match.
It was Alonso’s first game in charge of the 15-time European champion, which is famously demanding of its coaches. Last month he replaced Carlo Ancelotti, who left to join the Brazil national team after winning three Champions Leagues and two Spanish titles in two stints at the club.
Despite being the overwhelming favourite against Al Hilal, Madrid had to settle for a draw after surviving a number of scares in the first half – leaving Alonso to call for patience. “We know this is going to take time,” he said.
The 26-year-old Mbappe was Madrid’s top scorer last season, with 43 goals in 56 appearances in his first year since joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
His hospitalisation came almost exactly one year after he sustained a broken nose at the European Championship and had to wear a face mask to continue playing in the tournament.
Published – June 20, 2025 05:17 am IST