French striker says he has made ‘100 percent recovery’ from his lingering knee injury and is fully available.
France striker Kylian Mbappe says he has fully recovered from a knee injury and wants to play all of Real Madrid’s remaining matches in the season run-in as he builds towards the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The 27-year-old missed four league games this year due to a lingering knee issue from last season, but featured off the bench in the 64th minute of Madrid’s 3-2 win over Atletico on Sunday.
Recommended Stories
list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Report: Zidane reaches verbal agreement to take over France coaching job
- list 2 of 4MLS: Messi scores for Inter Miami in 3-2 victory at NYCFC
- list 3 of 4Spain vs Argentina ‘Finalissima’ match in Qatar cancelled because of war
- list 4 of 4Messi censured for meeting and applauding Trump amid US attacks on Iran
Mbappe has been named in the national squad for friendlies against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia three days later in the United States, which is cohosting the June 11-July 19 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
“I have made a 100 percent recovery,” Mbappe told online sports newspaper AS.
“I prepared for the last two World Cups in the best way possible, which is to play, score goals, win titles, and fight until the last minute for my club, and this year I am going to do the same to arrive in top form.”
The forward scored a hat-trick in France’s World Cup 2022 final loss to Argentina in Qatar and won the tournament’s golden boot award with eight goals.
He said reports about his recovery have been speculative and “some false things have been said” about his return for the 1998 and 2018 world champions.
“It’s the life of a top athlete, and we’re used to people saying things without verifying them or having any basis in fact,” he said.
France will play in Group I at the World Cup with Norway, Senegal and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.
