Kylian Mbappé will not play again for France during this international break. The captain suffered a left knee injury during the 1-0 victory over Turkey and has returned to Madrid, with Real Madrid now confirming the diagnosis. His absence could reshuffle Zinédine Zidane’s attacking plans, with Désiré Doué among those who could benefit as early as Monday against Belgium.
Zidane’s first international break in charge of Les Bleus has ended prematurely for Mbappé. The forward scored the winner against Turkey on Friday but injured himself during the move leading to his goal before eventually being substituted a few minutes later. Real Madrid later announced that tests had revealed “hyperextension of the posterior capsule of the left knee,” with his recovery now being monitored.
Désiré Doué could benefit from Mbappé’s absence
Real Madrid have not provided a precise recovery timeline, but Mbappé has left the France squad and will not be replaced. He will therefore miss the next three matches against Belgium, Italy and Belgium again. His absence could create a major opportunity for Doué, who was the player chosen by Zidane to replace Mbappé in the 59th minute against Turkey. For Monday’s Belgium-France clash in Brussels, the coach must now rethink an attack that initially featured Mbappé on the left, Ousmane Dembélé through the middle and Michael Olise on the right.
Doué appears to be one of the most natural candidates to take over on the left and could earn another start for France, although Bradley Barcola is another option and Zidane has yet to make a final decision. The PSG player now has three matches without Mbappé to strengthen his position in the attacking hierarchy: away to Belgium on Monday, against Italy on Friday, October 2, and against Belgium again on October 5. The captain’s injury could therefore accelerate Doué’s emergence in Zidane’s starting XI.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, remain cautious and have given no date for Mbappé’s return. He leaves the France squad after just one match under Zidane, but one in which he scored the first goal of the Zizou era and his 67th for his country. France must now test a new attacking setup, and Doué could have a major opportunity to make his case in Brussels on Monday.
