Two members of the attacking ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid have been forced into premature departures from international duty with their respective countries.
The pair in question? Kylian Mbappé, and Franco Mastantuono.
Frontman Mbappé for his part limped out of France’s World Cup qualifying meeting with Azerbaijan on Friday.
Late in a starring display featuring a goal and an assist, the 26-year-old pulled up with an ankle problem late on.
The same ankle which Mbappé damaged last weekend against Villarreal, no chances were taken, with the former PSG man having been sent back to Madrid by the French medical team.
And joining Mbappé in returning to Valdebebas early is teammate and attacking partner Franco Mastantuono.
Argentina are fresh off a friendly victory over Venezuela in the early hours of Saturday. Mastantuono, though, played no part, not even called up by Lionel Scaloni despite having joined his compatriots for international duty this week.
This comes owing to a case of muscular overload.
The summer arrival in Spain’s capital will be put through a fresh round of scans and tests over the days ahead.
Mbappé regresa a Madrid con problemas en el tobillo. No es grave y se espera que pueda entrenar con el grupo la semana que viene.
Mastantuono también regresa de la concentración de Argentina en EEUU por molestias musculares. Se le harán pruebas en Madrid. pic.twitter.com/K0pFyMpg3W
— Picón (@JorgeCPicon) October 11, 2025
Conor Laird – GSFN