Kylian Mbappé Still Missing as Real Madrid Prepare for Pachuca Test
Fans looking for a spark from Kylian Mbappé at the Club World Cup are in for a wait. The French superstar hasn’t returned to full training with Real Madrid after his sudden hospital stay for severe gastroenteritis. Fresh from the ward, he’s been spotted only in the team hotel gym, keeping his fitness ticking over with solo sessions while the rest of the squad carries on at base camp in Saudi Arabia.
What happened? Mbappé started feeling ill last week. The acute gastroenteritis came with bouts of vomiting and diarrhea—pretty rough for anyone, let alone a world-class athlete during a grueling summer tournament. Those symptoms are especially risky in desert heat, where dehydration lurks and even short sessions can take a toll. Medical staff, wary about pushing him too soon, are spinning up a cautious comeback. Since his discharge on June 19, he’s avoided any sessions with real physical contact or high intensity.
This all leaves Madrid boss Xabi Alonso shuffling his lineup ahead of a must-win against Mexico’s Pachuca on June 21. Gonzalo García, a young talent who filled in against Al Hilal last time out, is now set for another bite at the cherry up front. Without their star signing, Madrid looked less threatening and could only manage a draw, which dropped them in a tricky place in their group. Every point feels like it matters more than ever to keep their hopes for the knockout stages alive.
Madrid’s Club World Cup Hopes in the Balance
The math is simple: dropping more points, especially against Pachuca, will crank up the pressure for Real Madrid in their last group clash against Red Bull Salzburg on June 27. With the new format putting extra weight on each match, there’s no room for slip-ups. Madrid fans and staff alike know how much difference Mbappé makes on the field—not just for goals, but in how he stretches defenses and lifts the squad’s confidence when the stakes rise.
Behind closed doors, doctors are monitoring Mbappé daily, weighing up when he might be able to rejoin group training. Sources close to the club say everyone is prioritizing his health over any rush to return, especially with high humidity and temperature outside. Gastroenteritis might be common, but in these conditions, it’s nothing to mess with. The team wants his comeback to stick, rather than risk an early relapse.
Everyone’s eyes now turn to the upcoming fixtures. Can García keep impressing in Mbappé’s absence? Will Real Madrid’s attack find its rhythm without their key man? And most importantly, will a fully fit Mbappé be ready ⎯ and needed ⎯ for their possible make-or-break showdown with Salzburg?
What’s certain is that Real Madrid’s run at the Club World Cup is suddenly a lot more interesting — and a lot more unpredictable — with their Mbappé recovery saga hanging in the balance.