Mbappé injures knee scoring France winner as Zidane admits: "It's not good"
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal in France's 1-0 win over Turkey, then injured his left knee moments later and had to be withdrawn. Zinedine Zidane, in his first match as France head coach, said the striker will return to Real Madrid for treatment. "No, it's not good. It's not good, unfortunately. We will not take risks," he said.
ByJavi
5 min read
Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge of France ended on a sour note. France beat Turkey 1-0 at Kocaeli Stadium in İzmit thanks to a goal from Kylian Mbappé, but the Real Madrid forward injured his left knee right after scoring and had to leave the pitch. Zidane admitted to French television that the situation looks worrying and confirmed that the player will return to Madrid for treatment.
- Mbappé scored the winner in the 54th minute with a low finish after a pass from Michael Olise.
- The forward sat on the ground holding his left leg and was substituted within minutes.
- France's medical staff reported a knee tendon injury and said he would return to Madrid.
- Zidane was blunt: "No, it's not good. It's not good, unfortunately. We will not take risks."
- Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir was sent off in the 87th minute for handling the ball outside the area.
How Mbappé got injured on Zidane's debut
France broke the deadlock in the 54th minute. Michael Olise threaded a precise pass and Mbappé, the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, rifled a low drive past Ugurcan Cakir. The celebrations were cut short almost immediately: the attacker sat on the turf clutching his left leg, and Zidane took him off within minutes.
The initial report from the French camp pointed to a knee tendon injury. The player will leave the squad and be assessed by Real Madrid's medical team, who will take charge of the treatment for a footballer who is essential to the Spanish club's demanding run-in.
Zidane pulls no punches: "It's not good, unfortunately"
"No, it's not good. It's not good, unfortunately. We will not take risks," Zidane told French television about Mbappé's injury.
The head coach did not hide his concern. It was his first game in charge of France, and the victory was overshadowed by the sight of his biggest star asking to come off. Zidane avoided speculating about the exact extent of the problem, but his tone made clear that the coaching staff will not push the striker under any circumstances.
Zidane's first line-up and a match shaped by the pitch
In his first starting eleven, Zidane deployed Mbappé on the left flank and Ousmane Dembélé through the middle, with Olise on the right wing and Manchester City's Rayan Cherki pulling the strings in midfield. The attacking approach ran into a scrappy opening full of misplaced passes from both sides. The bumpy surface at Kocaeli Stadium did little to help the ball move smoothly.
Even so, France created the clearest chances before the break. Olise forced a fine save from Cakir with a dipping effort, and Adrien Rabiot scooped the ball over the bar after good work from Cherki and Dembélé.
Maignan keeps France alive before Cakir sees red
Turkey pushed hard and came close to equalising. Ismail Yuksek connected with a downward header that seemed destined for the net, but Mike Maignan flew across to make a stunning one-handed stop and preserve the clean sheet. It was the perfect response to Cakir's earlier save from Olise in the first half.
The Turkish goalkeeper went from hero to villain late on. In the 87th minute, he came out of his area and blocked Bradley Barcola's shot with his arm, an action that earned him a red card. Down to ten men, Turkey could no longer trouble a France side that took the win but lost its biggest star to injury.
What Mbappé's knee injury means for Real Madrid
Mbappé's injury arrives at a delicate moment for Real Madrid. The Spanish club is fighting for La Liga and the Champions League in the decisive stretch of the season, and its star striker is the main attacking weapon in the project. A lengthy absence would force Carlo Ancelotti to reshuffle the forward line and hand more minutes to the supporting cast.
The club will assess the player upon his arrival at Valdebebas. A knee tendon injury calls for caution, and Zidane's message — "we will not take risks" — suggests there will be no rush with a footballer expected to define an era at the Bernabéu.
Frequently asked questions about Mbappé's injury
Frequently asked questions
What injury does Kylian Mbappé have?
The French forward has suffered a tendon injury in his left knee, according to the report released by the French national team after the match against Turkey. He will return to Madrid to be assessed and treated by Real Madrid's medical staff.
What did Zidane say about Mbappé's injury?
Zinedine Zidane told French television that the injury "is not good, unfortunately" and stressed that they will not take any risks with the player. It came on his first appearance as France head coach, a debut overshadowed by the setback.
How long will Mbappé be out for?
There is no official recovery timeline yet. Mbappé will return to Madrid for tests and to begin treatment, and both the national team and the club have insisted they will not rush his return.