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Rabat – Kylian Mbappe was forced off late in Real Madrid’s 1‑1 draw against Real Betis on Friday, raising fresh concerns about his fitness ahead of the World Cup.
The 27‑year‑old striker left the pitch in the 81st minute at Estadio de La Cartuja, and he was replaced by youngster Gonzalo Garcia.
Club sources indicated that initial checks suggest a strain in his left hamstring, though further medical tests will be required to confirm the extent of the problem.
Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa admitted he did not yet know how serious the injury was. “He was feeling discomfort, and we’ll have to see how it develops,” Arbeloa said after the match.
The timing is worrying for France, which will begin their World Cup campaign against Senegal on June 16, just 53 days away.
Mbappe, captain of the national team, has been central to their success. He has scored 56 goals in 96 appearances for France, including a hat‑trick in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina and a goal in the 2018 final win over Croatia.
Despite battling a recurring left knee issue earlier this season, Mbappe has remained a prolific goal scorer. He has scored 41 goals in 41 matches across all competitions for Madrid, showing his importance to Arbeloa’s side.
His injury comes just a day after Madrid confirmed that Arda Guler and Eder Militao will miss the rest of the season with hamstring problems, though both are expected to recover in time for the World Cup.
Real Madrid looked set for victory after Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the first half, but Betis equalized in stoppage time through Hector Bellerín.
The draw leaves Madrid eight points behind leaders Barcelona with six games remaining, making their title hopes increasingly slim.
Read also: Real Madrid Crisis Deepens After Injuries to Militao and Guler
