The French striker says he is ‘100 per cent recovered’ from his long-term knee injury and is fully available.
Published on 24 March 2026
France striker Kylian Mbappe says he has fully recovered from a knee injury and wants to play all of Real Madrid’s remaining matches in the early stages of the season in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 27-year-old missed four league games this year due to a knee problem last season, but he came off the bench in the 64th minute of Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico on Sunday.
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Mbappe has been named in the national squad for friendlies against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia three days later in the United States, which is co-hosting the June 11-July 19 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
“I’m 100 percent recovered,” Mbappe told online sports newspaper AS.
“I prepared for the last two World Cups in the best way possible, which is to play, score goals, win titles and fight till the last minute for my club, and this year too I am going to do the same to be in top form.”
The forward scored a hat-trick in France’s defeat to Argentina in the World Cup 2022 final in Qatar and won the tournament’s Golden Boot award with eight goals.
He said reports of his recovery were speculation and “there have been some false things said” about his comeback for the 1998 and 2018 world champion.
“This is the life of a top athlete and we have become accustomed to people saying anything without confirmation or without any basis,” he said.
France will play in Group I at the World Cup with Norway, Senegal and the winner of the intercontinental playoff.
