Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has been admitted to hospital with a severe case of gastroenteritis, the Spanish side announced on Thursday.
World Cup champion Mbappe was not present for Madrid’s opening match at the Club World Cup against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal in Miami on Wednesday due to a high fever.
Coach Hopes for Recovery of Kylian Mbappe Before Next Game
Coach Xabi Alonso hoped Mbappe would be ready for the team’s next match against Pachuca on Sunday. Mbappe’s hospitalization, however, puts in question what role he could possibly have in the month-long competition in the United States.
Madrid announced Mbappe would “undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment.”
Kylian Mbappe’s absence is a setback for the tournament, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino hopes to be among soccer’s elite tournaments and compete against others like the Champions League and Premier League in terms of popularity and worth.
Missed Opportunity for U.S. Fans to See Kylian Mbappe
Following Lionel Messi, Mbappe is arguably the biggest star in the spectacle, with Madrid among the title favorites in the first edition of the tournament.
But a gathering of over 62,000 at Hard Rock Stadium was denied a rare opportunity to view him in the flesh in the U.S. when he was not available for Madrid’s unexpected 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal on Wednesday.
Illness Symptoms and Recent Injury History
Gastroenteritis has also been referred to as stomach flu and some of its symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea.
Mbappe’s hospitalization is nearly a year to the day that he broke his nose during the European Championship and was forced to wear a face mask to keep playing in the tournament.
Madrid’s Tournament Hopes Hang in Balance
The timing of Mbappe’s illness could not have come at a worse moment for Real Madrid, who are looking to make a dominant statement on the global stage through the Club World Cup. With mounting expectations and global attention fixed on the tournament, his health status remains a crucial factor in the club’s strategy moving forward.
As fans and teammates await updates, the medical team is monitoring Mbappe’s recovery closely, hoping for a quick return to action that could still salvage his Club World Cup campaign.