Kylian Mbappe knee injury update: Real Madrid star set for tests; check confirmed lineup against Getafe
Kylian Mbappe has been sidelined recently due to persistent pain in his left knee's external ligament. He is now ruled out of Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Getafe on March 2, 2026, at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid's star striker Kylian Mbappe is facing a setback with his ongoing left knee issue, but the club has confirmed no surgery is on the horizon. The 27-year-old France captain, who has been dealing with an external ligament sprain since late 2025, travelled to Paris for further medical assessments accompanied by Real Madrid's medical staff.
Persistent knee problem forces absence
Kylian Mbappe has been sidelined recently due to persistent pain in his left knee's external ligament. He missed the Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica and is now ruled out of Real Madrid's La Liga clash with Getafe on March 2, at the Santiago Bernabeu.
His availability for the upcoming Champions League last-16 first leg against Manchester City remains uncertain, with recovery timelines still unclear.
A statement from Mbappe's representatives noted, "In agreement with the club, he is undergoing further tests on his knee with the aim of optimising his follow-up care and preparing for his comeback. No surgical intervention is being planned at the moment."
Real Madrid's statement
Real Madrid echoed this in their official bulletin. "Following the tests conducted on our player Kylian Mbappe by French specialist doctors, under the supervision of Real Madrid's Medical Services, the diagnosis of a sprain in the left knee and the suitability of the conservative treatment being followed are confirmed."
Coach Arbeloa prioritizes full recovery
Interim coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who has guided the team through recent challenges, emphasized a cautious approach. Mbappe has been prolific this season, netting 38 goals in 33 appearances, but the club opted for rest over rushing him back.
"It was a bit of a consensus between everyone and we think the best thing is that he stops, that he recovers and comes back at 100%," Arbeloa said last week. "It's not going to be a question of days, it will be a bit longer, but I can't say how long. Hopefully not too long."
Real Madrid gears up for Getafe without key players
With Kylian Mbappe sidelined, along with other absences like Jude Bellingham and Eder Militao due to their own injuries, Arbeloa has rotated the squad.
The confirmed starting XI for Real Madrid includes: Courtois; Trent, Rudiger, Alaba, Carreras; Tchouameni, Valverde, Pitarch, Guler; Vinicius and Gonzalo.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Getafe
The La Liga match kicks off on March 2, 2026, at 21:00 CET (3:00 PM EST) from the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain. Fans in Spain can tune in via DAZN La Liga, while those in the USA have options on ESPN Deportes (TV) and ESPN+ (streaming).
Mbappe's return will be closely monitored as Real Madrid aims to maintain their title challenge in La Liga and push forward in Europe.
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Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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