It was unclear whether Kylian Mbappe would be able to play for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup after he was released from the hospital on Thursday due to an extreme case of gastroenteritis.
Due to a sickness, Mbappe was unable to play in the Spanish powerhouse’s tournament debut, which ended in a shocking 1-1 tie in Miami against the Saudi outfit AI Hilal. The France international had been unable to exercise for days and was in “rough shape,” according to coach Xabi Alonso.
With Madrid playing Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, his illness raises questions about how much he would be able to contribute to the mouth-watering tournament in the United States.
“Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to the team’s activity,” Madrid said in a statement.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as stomach flu, might include diarrhoea and vomiting.
The absence of Mbappe is a setback for the Club World Cup, which FIFA head Gianni Infantino believes would rank among the top football tournaments and compete with leagues like the Premier League and Champions League in terms of value and popularity.
With Madrid as one of the favourites to win the trophy in the tournament’s first edition, Mbappe is undoubtedly the greatest star in the show after Lionel Messi.
However, he was unable to attend Madrid’s opening game at the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins on Wednesday, depriving the more than 62,000 fans at Hard Rock Stadium of a unique opportunity to see him in person in the United States.
In what has been a challenging start to the tournament for the team’s new coach, Alonso also missed him. When playing AI Hilal, the most successful team in Saudi Arabia, Madrid looked lacklustre and lost a penalty kick in the 92nd minute.
It was Alonso’s first game as manager of the 15-time European champion, a team known for its exacting standards.
He took over last month from Carlo Ancelotti, who won three Champions Leagues and two Spanish titles during his two stints at the club before departing to join the Brazil national team.
Madrid survived several scares in the first half, but despite being the clear favourite against AI Hilal, they had to settle for a draw, forcing Alonso to ask for patience.
“We know this is going to take time,” he said.
With 43 goals in 56 games in his first season since signing from Paris Saint-Germain, the 26-year-old Mbappe was Madrid’s leading scorer the previous season.
Nearly a year has passed since he was admitted to the hospital after breaking his nose during the European Championship and needing to wear a face mask to compete.