The nature of Mbappe’s injury has become a source of heated debate and controversy within the Spanish capital. The Frenchman’s fitness issues have been described as "intermittent," leading to frustration amongst the fanbase and the hierarchy. The problems reportedly surfaced just prior to the Champions League clash with Manchester City late last year - a match that was billed as an initial ultimatum for Xabi Alonso. Madrid lost that game without their talisman, yet Mbappe returned to action almost immediately afterwards.
The controversy stems from Mbappe’s pursuit of individual glory. Following the City defeat, there were three matches remaining in the calendar year of 2025. At that stage, Mbappe was four goals shy of equalling Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic record for the most goals scored for Real Madrid in a single calendar year.
Despite the lingering knee issues, Mbappe played all three matches, scoring the requisite four goals to tie the record. However, this pursuit of history appears to have come at a heavy price. The exertion required to chase down Ronaldo’s milestone aggravated the injury, forcing him to miss the opening two games of 2026: a league fixture against Real Betis and the Supercopa semi-final against Atletico Madrid.