Mbappé, injured: Sprain after goal and concern in Real Madrid and France

Star striker Kylian Mbappé will be evaluated after suffering a minor ankle sprain during Real Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, according to coach Xabi Alonso. Mbappé was substituted in the 83rd minute at the Santiago Bernabéu, two minutes after scoring Madrid’s third goal. This goal marked his ninth consecutive match scoring for the club and the national team, a personal record. Real Madrid will play its next match on October 19, after the LaLiga break due to the international matches this week. Alonso commented in the post-match press conference: “I can’t say that Mbappé won’t go with France. Right now he has some discomfort. They will have to evaluate him with the national team.”

“We hope it’s not serious. But right now we can’t say anything.”

Xabi Alonso

France is scheduled to play against Azerbaijan in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, followed by Iceland three days later.

Mbappé missed the opportunity to score earlier in Saturday’s match, when he allowed Vinícius Júnior to take a penalty after the Brazilian was brought down in the area. Vinícius converted the penalty for his second goal of the match, but Alonso said that Mbappé remains Madrid’s designated penalty taker. “[The players] decided, but the pitcher is Kylian,” Alonso said. “We trust him. It was his decision, but the first option is Kylian.” Alonso praised Federico Valverde’s performance at right-back, after the midfielder was forced to issue a statement this week denying that he had refused to play in that position, and described Vinícius’ impact as “decisive”. “Vini played a very good game,” Alonso said. “I am very happy with him. I like to see Vini smile and enjoy himself. He could have scored a hat-trick, which would have completed the complete game he played.”