June 21, (THEWILL) – June 21, (THEWILL) – Real Madrid forward, Kylian Mbappe, will miss Sunday’s Club World Cup fixture against Pachuca after remaining hospitalised with acute gastroenteritis earlier this week. The French international was admitted to a Miami-area medical facility on Wednesday following several days of illness and was discharged on Thursday. Club officials confirmed Mbappe skipped Saturday’s training session and will not travel with the squad to Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 26-year-old striker had been isolated from teammates since Tuesday before his hospital admission, raising concerns about his availability for the tournament. Medical staff monitored his condition closely during his brief stay, with the club prioritising his full recovery over match participation. Mbappe’s absence represents a significant blow to Xavi Alonso’s attacking options in the expanded 32-team competition.
Real Madrid’s opening Group H encounter against Saudi Arabian side, Al-Hilal, ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving the Spanish giants trailing RB Salzburg in the group standings. The Austrian club currently leads with three points following their 2-1 victory over Mexican outfit Pachuca. The result puts additional pressure on Real Madrid to pick up maximum points in their remaining group fixtures.
Club sources indicated earlier this week that Mbappe was unlikely to feature in any group-stage matches at the tournament, suggesting a cautious approach to his return. The former Paris Saint-Germain star joined Real Madrid last summer and has flourished in La Liga. His absence will test the depth of Alonso’s squad during the competition.
The tournament format allows teams to progress with strong performances in remaining group matches, though every point proves vital in the competitive field.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
