<figure id="attachment_3252755" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3252755" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3252755" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/35fcf5b7-kylian-mbappe-09012026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3252755" class="wp-caption-text">Sources said Real Madrid’s top scorer Kylian Mbappe withdrew from the squad to face Benfica due to persistent pain in training. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
MADRID: Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said that star striker Kylian Mbappe will not be making a speedy return from the knee injury that forced him out of the Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica on Wednesday.
France captain Mbappe, 27, had been playing through pain for a couple of months but is now expected to miss at least 10 days as he recovers.
&#8220;It was a bit of a consensus between everyone (Mbappe, the coach and the doctors), and we think the best thing is that he stops, that he recovers and comes back at 100 percent,&#8221; Arbeloa told Movistar.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not going to be a question of days, it will be a bit longer, but I can&#8217;t say how long, hopefully not too long.&#8221;
Sources told AFP that Real&#8217;s top scorer had to withdraw from the squad to face Benfica because he felt &#8220;pain that was too persistent&#8221; in training ahead of the game.

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