Report: Kylian Mbappe suffers injury setback ahead of Real Madrid’s key UEFA Champions League clash vs. Benfica

Kylian Mbappé has been one of the few consistent bright spots in what has been a turbulent 2025-26 season for Real Madrid, as the club prepares for a decisive UEFA Champions League showdown against Benfica. However, less than 24 hours before kickoff, the French star has reportedly suffered an injury setback, raising concern within Los Blancos ahead of the crucial fixture.

According to L’Équipe, Mbappé was unable to complete Real Madrid’s final training session after once again experiencing discomfort in his left knee. As a result of the setback, the forward is expected to be rested and will not feature against Benfica, dealing a significant blow to Madrid’s plans for the UEFA Champions League encounter.

As the French outlet reported, Mbappé underwent tests in the afternoon that revealed the knee, an area that has troubled him in recent months, is still far from fully healed. While a recovery timeline has not been determined, the Frenchman’s availability for Wednesday’s match at the Santiago Bernabéu has effectively been ruled out.

Earlier in Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Álvaro Arbeloa had said Mbappé was fit for the Champions League clash: “Kylian is ready to play Wednesday and that’s what matters most. For several weeks now, everyone has known it… And I want to highlight the dedication he shows. Toward his teammates, his team, his coach, his club, his supporters.“

Mbappé’s knee discomfort resurfaces

This is not the first time Mbappé has been sidelined from key matches because of knee trouble. Toward the end of 2025, during a Madrid training session, the forward felt discomfort, and an MRI later revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee.

Because of that injury, Mbappé missed the La Liga match against Real Betis on Jan. 4 and the Spanish Super Cup semifinal against Atlético Madrid four days later. Despite not traveling to Saudi Arabia with the squad, he pushed to appear in the Jan. 11 final against FC Barcelona, playing just 14 minutes.

After that effort, and following the dismissal of coach Xabi Alonso after the lost final, Mbappé continued featuring regularly for Madrid, completing 90 minutes in eight of the club’s last nine matches across all competitions. However, the discomfort never fully subsided, and with a pivotal European showdown looming, resting the team’s star forward is viewed internally as the safest course to avoid a more serious setback.

Mbappé, eager to avoid any setback for the 2026 World Cup

Mbappé currently stands as Real Madrid’s leading scorer in the UEFA Champions League with 13 goals this season, which underscores how significant his absence could be. With Madrid holding only a one-goal aggregate edge over Benfica, losing their most clinical finisher represents a major blow heading into the decisive stretch of the tie.

Still, with the tournament set to kick off in less than five months, any issue involving his knee would raise serious concern for both Mbappé and the France national team. Sitting out against Benfica is therefore a decision shaped not only by Champions League priorities, but also by the long-term objective of ensuring he is fully fit for this summer’s global showcase in North America.