Kylian Mbappe on Wednesday shut down claims that Real Madrid examined the wrong knee following the injury he sustained late last year.
France's forward Kylian Mbappe signs autographs upon arriving at the hotel in Boston on March 24, 2026. (AFP)
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The controversy stemmed from a report on French broadcaster RMC Sport’s talk show After Foot, which claimed that the club had initially scanned Mbappe’s right knee instead of his left after the December injury. The report was widely picked up by global media outlets.
Mbappe, however, dismissed the claim outright.
“The report that said that they (examined) the wrong knee is false,” he said at a press conference ahead of France’s international friendly against Brazil.
While rejecting the claim, the French star admitted that a lack of communication may have contributed to the speculation.
“I am maybe responsible indirectly for this situation, because when you don’t communicate on what’s happening, it opens doors to others’ interpretations.”
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“I am maybe responsible indirectly for this situation, because when you don’t communicate on what’s happening, it opens doors to others’ interpretations.”
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Mbappe had earlier stated in December that he had sprained his left knee. He continued playing through January before being sidelined for three-and-a-half weeks, returning only recently and featuring as a substitute in his last two matches for Real Madrid.
The 27-year-old also emphasised that there has been no confusion internally.
“I have very clear communication” with Real Madrid, he said.
Currently in Boston, Mbappe is part of the France squad set to face Brazil in an international friendly in Foxborough on Thursday, before taking on Colombia in Landover on Sunday.
Speaking earlier this week in Paris, Mbappe admitted the injury phase had taken a mental toll.
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“There was a lot of frustration, a lot of anger, and then also some anxiety at one point,” he said. “I had reached a stage where I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I didn’t go through that period in the best way. I wasn’t the happiest player in the world. But I’m happy now because it’s truly behind me. It’s all gone.”
France head coach Didier Deschamps has yet to confirm whether Mbappe will start in the upcoming fixtures.
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.
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Home/Sports/Football/Kylian Mbappe shuts down ‘wrong knee’ injury controversy at Real Madrid, says 'I'm responsible for the situation'
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