Real Madrid Medical Error: Kylian Mbappé's Wrong Knee Examined During Injury Assessment

Real Madrid's medical staff examined the wrong knee when assessing Kylian Mbappé's injury in December 2025, according to French journalist Daniel Riolo and corroborated by Spanish outlets including MARCA and Cope, leading the forward to play three full matches while his actual injury went untreated. Mbappé sustained a blow to his left knee on December 7, 2025, during a match against Celta de Vigo, but doctors analyzed MRI images of his right knee instead. The Athletic, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation, confirmed that Mbappé continued to play despite showing signs of inflammation in the injured left knee. The misdiagnosis meant the striker appeared in the starting lineup for three consecutive fixtures — against Deportivo Alavés on December 14, Talavera CF in the cup on December 17, and Sevilla FC in the league on December 20 — all while the pain persisted. A correct diagnosis of a sprain in the left knee was only announced by the club on December 31, 2025, after Mbappé was observed complaining of pain during a training session at Valdebebas the previous day and underwent further tests.

Mbappé flew to Paris to find the right answer Mbappé ultimately resolved the situation by seeking a second opinion from a specialist in France, a step that proved decisive for his recovery. The specialist who identified and treated the problem was doctor Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, a knee ligament expert at the Centre Orthopedique Santy, who had previously operated on Zlatan Ibrahimović in 2022 and reconstructed Mouctar Diakhaby's right knee in 2024. Mbappé remained in Paris until March 8, 2026, following the recovery plan established by Sonnery-Cottet. His absence from the Santiago Bernabéu for the Champions League playoff second leg against Benfica on February 25 came after he had played the full match against Osasuna just four days earlier, illustrating the erratic pattern his availability had followed throughout the episode. Mbappé addressed the ordeal at an advertising event on Monday, acknowledging the difficulty of the period without directly criticizing Real Madrid. „I was lucky to find the correct diagnosis when I came to Paris and, together, we managed to find the best plan to return to the best level.” — Kylian Mbappé via Mediafax.ro

Frustration and anxiety marked Mbappé's difficult winter Mbappé did not conceal his frustration with how the injury was handled, even as he stopped short of explicitly blaming the club. Speaking before Riolo's disclosure became public, the France captain described a period marked by confusion and distress. „There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger and even a little anxiety. I had reached a point where I didn't know what I had. I did not go through that period in the best way; I was not the happiest player in the world.” — Kylian Mbappé via Mediafax.ro He also acknowledged hearing "quite a few false things" during the weeks of speculation, and said he preferred not to go into details while noting the club "tried to manage as best as possible." In total, Mbappé missed 7 (matches) — Real Madrid matches missed due to the knee injury for Real Madrid as a result of the injury, a figure that might have been lower had the correct knee been examined from the outset. The episode generated widespread coverage, with Riolo first breaking the story on the RMC program After Foot before Spanish media confirmed the account.

Mbappé knee injury timeline: — ; — ; — ; — ; —

Real Madrid reshuffled medical staff and coaching after the scandal Real Madrid responded to the medical failure by bringing back Niko Mihic as head of medical services, a move that came shortly after the correct diagnosis was established at the end of December 2025. The club made no public statement acknowledging the diagnostic error, and sources close to the club consulted by El País did not deny the account. The coaching setup at the club also changed during this period: Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed Real Madrid head coach in January 2026, succeeding Xabi Alonso, and Mbappé was seen at Valdebebas on January 13 for the first training session under Arbeloa's direction. Mbappé has since returned to full fitness, featuring in matches against Manchester City and Atlético Madrid. He has been included in the France squad by coach Didier Deschamps for two friendly matches to be played in the United States — against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia on March 29, 2026. „My knee is fine and it is improving. I know that there has been a lot of speculation about it and some falsehoods have been said.” — Kylian Mbappé via Il Messaggero

Kylian Mbappé joined Real Madrid as a forward and captains the France national team. Knee and soft tissue injuries have historically posed significant risks to elite forwards, with mismanaged recoveries often leading to prolonged absences or recurring problems. The December 2025 episode is not the first time a high-profile club's medical department has faced scrutiny over injury management, though cases involving the examination of the wrong body part are exceptionally rare at the top level of professional football.