Kylian Mbappé’s left knee is once again raising concerns at Real Madrid. According to L’Équipe, the French forward stopped training on Tuesday and will not feature against Benfica in the Champions League playoff second leg. He underwent medical tests later that same afternoon to assess the extent of the discomfort.

The situation reportedly mirrors what occurred earlier this season against Manchester City. In that 1–2 defeat, Mbappé remained on the bench as a precaution, avoiding further risk to his knee.

The issue dates back to a knock suffered against Celta Vigo on December 7. An MRI scan carried out before the end of the year revealed damage to the lateral collateral ligament, initially requiring at least three weeks of recovery. However, Mbappé returned after just 11 days, amid mounting pressure due to the Super Cup final in Jeddah against Barcelona.

What followed was an unforgiving schedule, including the Copa del Rey elimination against Albacete. Over the next month, Mbappé missed only one match, against Real Sociedad, despite the physical strain.

Now, the debate appears to be less about diagnosis and more about strategy. Halting his involvement at this stage could secure his availability for the decisive stretch of the campaign and safeguard his primary long-term target: the 2026 World Cup.

At Valdebebas, the feeling is that whether he plays against Benfica or not, Mbappé should be granted at least 10 days of rest. Upcoming fixtures against Getafe and the trip to Vigo are seen as manageable sacrifices if it means preserving him for the crucial months ahead.

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