Kylian Mbappe faces an anxious wait over his participation in the World Cup after Real Madrid confirmed he sustained a hamstring injury in Friday's 1-1 LaLiga draw at Real Betis. The France forward was withdrawn in the 81st minute and underwent tests on Monday, but the club has not disclosed the extent of the damage or expected recovery time.
A club statement read: 'Following the tests carried out on our player Kylian Mbappe by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg. Awaiting progress.' The 27-year-old has been in top form this season, scoring 41 goals and making six assists in 41 appearances across all competitions.
Mbappe is now at risk of missing the final El Clasico of the season on 10 May at the Nou Camp, with Barcelona holding an 11-point lead at the top of La Liga with five matches left. The injury also casts doubt on his availability for France's World Cup campaign, which begins against Senegal on 16 June, followed by Iraq on 22 June and Norway on 26 June.
Mbappe has delivered for France during World Cup qualification, scoring five goals and providing two assists in four appearances. His goal in March's 2-1 friendly win against Brazil took him to 56 goals in 95 appearances, one short of Olivier Giroud's all-time record. France are considered one of the main contenders for the tournament, and losing Mbappe would be a significant blow.
