Kylian Mbappe’s Participation in Al Hilal Match at Club World Cup in Doubt for Real Madrid | Football Updates

On the eve of the Club World Cup opener for Real Madrid against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, forward Kylian Mbappe is dealing with illness. The French star missed training on Tuesday due to a fever, and manager Xabi Alonso confirmed that a decision on his participation would be made in the morning. Alonso mentioned that Mbappe wasn’t fully fit and skipped training to monitor his condition. The potential absence of Mbappe creates a selection challenge for Alonso, as the squad is currently without another recognized center forward. Endrick, who could have been an alternative, is not with the team due to a leg muscle injury. Despite Mbappe’s possible absence, Alonso emphasized the importance of team pressing and defensive work for success. Real Madrid, dominant in European football with five Champions League titles in the last decade, enters the tournament as a favorite. Al Hilal, who won the AFC Champions League in 2021, aims to leverage any weaknesses in Madrid’s lineup. Both teams are in Group F with Mexican side Pachuca and Austrian club RB Salzburg.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/6/17/real-madrids-mbappe-a-doubt-for-al-hilal-clash-at-club-world-cup?traffic_source=rss