Mbappe Shines as France Qualifies for World Cup Amid Injury Concerns

Kylian Mbappe showcased his exceptional talent by scoring two goals in France’s decisive victory against Ukraine, ensuring their qualification for the upcoming World Cup. The 26-year-old forward was also supported by Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise and Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, as Les Bleus secured their place in next summer’s tournament across Canada, Mexico, and the United States with a match yet to spare.

With his brace against Ukraine, the former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain star reached an impressive milestone of 400 career goals, making him the youngest player to achieve this feat. Despite the achievement, Mbappe remained humble, stating, “Four hundred goals? It is great, but people are not impressed with it. When you have one guy with 950 [Ronaldo] and another with 900 [Messi], I need 400 more if I want to be in the conversation that will shock people.”

He further remarked on the daunting challenge posed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s 1,000 goals, expressing his determination to chase such extraordinary numbers, saying, “But we will try the unreal. I have to try: I only have one career!”

However, Mbappe’s aspirations will be temporarily interrupted as he has withdrawn from the upcoming match against Azerbaijan due to an ankle injury sustained during the game against Ukraine. The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the decision, stating, “French internationals Manu Kone, Eduardo Camavinga, and Kylian Mbappe have been released back to their clubs.”

As the French national team prepares to fly to Baku for the Azerbaijan match, the FFF noted that Kone is suspended after receiving a yellow card, while Camavinga is dealing with a muscle strain. Mbappe, who is experiencing inflammation in his right ankle, will undergo further examinations in Madrid.

While some have questioned the decision to allow Mbappe to withdraw from international duty, France manager Didier Deschamps emphasized that there was no need to risk their star player, given that qualification for the World Cup had already been secured. In his pre-match press conference, he explained, “He still has inflammation in the ankle. I’ve sent him back to Real Madrid, and their medical staff will decide what they need to do. There was absolutely no risk to take since we’re already qualified.”

Mbappe’s early release is a significant advantage for Real Madrid as they prepare for the return of La Liga next weekend. Currently leading the table with 31 points after 12 games, the team is set to face Elche on November 23. In the ongoing 2025-26 season, Mbappe has been in impressive form, scoring 18 goals in just 16 appearances across all competitions, making him the top scorer in La Liga with 13 goals and tallying five in four Champions League matches. Only Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen has outscored him in the premier European competition with six goals.