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Mbappé Ruled Out of Benfica Clash

Published February 25, 2026, 14:17
Mbappé Ruled Out of Benfica Clash

Kylian Mbappé has been ruled out of Real Madrid's upcoming Champions League play-off match against Benfica. The French forward has been struggling with a knee injury for three months and, despite his efforts to recover, was unable to overcome the pain. His absence was confirmed by the squad list announced by Álvaro Arbeloa. Mbappé had already raised concerns after leaving Tuesday's training session early, with rumors suggesting he would miss the game against Benfica. The official announcement confirmed this information, leaving Real Madrid to face Benfica without one of their key attackers. The duration of Mbappé's absence remains unknown, however, this situation creates concern within the Real Madrid coaching staff. The player had pushed to play despite the pain, but the decision was ultimately made to rest him. The match against Benfica is crucial for Real Madrid, as qualifying for the Champions League round of 16 is the goal. Mbappé's absence will undoubtedly affect the team's attacking power, but Real Madrid will need to find alternative solutions to meet the challenge.