Mbappé's celebration triggers knee scare for France

Kylian Mbappé scored the opening goal for France in the Nations League match against Turkey, but limped off minutes later when a knee injury forced his substitution. The strike, set up by Michael Olisse, gave Les Bleus a 1‑0 lead, yet Mbappé’s celebration at Kocaeli alarmed the Real Madrid forward, prompting Zinedine Zidane to replace him with PSG’s Desireé Doué.

Video captures the moment

Olé! The incident was captured in a Video that quickly circulated on social media, with a Reuters still frame showing Mbappé clutching his right knee as he celebrated. The clip highlighted the sudden grimace on the striker’s face and the immediate concern of his teammates.

Minutes after finding the net, the 27‑year‑old felt a sharp pain in his left knee while jogging towards the crowd. He was forced to leave the pitch, and his captain’s armband was handed to Rayan Cherki, who witnessed the injury first‑hand.

Zinedine Zidane, visibly upset, gestured towards his head before signalling the substitution. Desireé Doué of PSG entered the field and logged roughly forty minutes of action.

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Past knee woes and future doubts

In December 2025, Mbappé had suffered a similar left‑knee problem in a league match against Celta de Vigo, later diagnosed as a posterior cruciate ligament sprain. The medical report from Real Madrid confirmed the injury and forced him to miss the remainder of that season. The goal that sparked the celebration was the first post‑Mundial strike for the selected Galo.

Following that episode, the French forward underwent a specialised rehabilitation programme in Paris, which he later described as leaving his knee '100 percent recovered' ahead of the Mundial. He told reporters that the treatment allowed him to return to top form for Real Madrid and the upcoming World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference, Mbappé said: 'The knee is fine, much better. There has been a lot of speculation and many lies. It is the life of a high‑level athlete, we are used to people saying things without verification.'

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Six months on, the recurrence of pain has revived doubts about his fitness and casts a shadow over both Francia’s Nations League campaign and Mbappé’s season with Real Madrid. The French side will monitor his condition closely before their next fixtures.