![\"Mbappe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2256746274-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nKylian Mbappe\u2019s knee injury was misdiagnosed after Real Madrid medical staff performed an MRI scan on the wrong leg back in December.<\/p>\n
When no problem was found after a scan of his uninjured right knee, the 27-year-old featured in three games for Madrid before the mistake was realised and rectified.<\/p>\n
Sources with first-hand knowledge of the situation \u2014 who, like all those consulted for this article, asked to speak anonymously as they did not have permission to comment \u2014 said Mbappe continued playing after that initial erroneous scan despite having signs of inflammation in his injured left knee.<\/p>\n
A further scan on his left leg then showed a partial posterior knee ligament tear, and on December 31, Madrid published a medical report consistent with that, although they described the injury in more general terms as a knee sprain.<\/p>\n
It is unclear how the initial mistake was made. Real Madrid and Mbappe\u2019s representatives were approached for comment on this story.<\/p>\n
Mbappe\u2019s troublesome knee<\/p>\n
The first signs of Mbappe\u2019s knee problem came after Madrid\u2019s 2-0 La Liga defeat at home to Celta Vigo on December 7. Sources among the club\u2019s coaching staff back then said it came about after Mbappe suffered a blow to his knee in the match.<\/p>\n
On December 10, the striker was an unused substitute for Madrid\u2019s home Champions League game with Manchester City, but he then played the full 90 minutes in all three of Madrid\u2019s remaining games of 2025, eventually equalling Cristiano Ronaldo\u2019s club record of 59 goals in a calendar year.<\/p>\n
When Mbappe returned to training after the Christmas break on December 30, he was seen touching his left knee as he spoke to medical staff. A day later, Madrid published their medical update with the knee sprain diagnosis \u2014 adding that a \u201cconservative\u201d recovery plan would be followed.<\/p>\n
Following that, Mbappe did not travel with the squad to Saudi Arabia for their Supercopa de Espana semi-final against city rivals Atletico Madrid, although he did then join the team for the final against Barcelona on January 11, coming off the bench for the final 14 minutes of a 3-2 defeat that ultimately cost Xabi Alonso the head coach\u2019s job.<\/p>\n
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\n Mbappe played three full games after having a scan on the wrong knee (Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
The Frenchman then played in eight of Madrid\u2019s next 10 matches, scoring nine goals, with the last of these coming on February 21. During this time, new Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa said that Mbappe\u2019s involvement was being closely monitored, and his workload was reduced in training.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re taking it day by day,\u201d Arbeloa said of Mbappe\u2019s fitness before a home La Liga fixture with Getafe on March 2. \u201cIt depends on how he\u2019s feeling. We want him back at 100 per cent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mbappe did not play in that game \u2014 the second match in a run of five Madrid fixtures he missed. He instead travelled to Paris for further tests and treatment on his knee injury, accompanied by Madrid medical staff.<\/p>\n
Madrid\u2019s wider injury issues<\/p>\n
Madrid president Florentino Perez has overseen changes to the club\u2019s physical training and medical departments, with trusted fitness coach Antonio Pintus brought back<\/a>, as well as head of medical services Dr Niko Mihic. Injuries have still been a problem for the team under new coach Arbeloa, however.<\/p>\n After Mbappe\u2019s trip to Paris, Madrid published another medical update which re-confirmed the diagnosis they had shared on December 31, repeating that a \u201cconservative recovery plan\u201d would be followed.<\/p>\n