Kylian Mbappe Fully Recovered from Knee Injury, Aims to Play All Remaining Real Madrid Games Before 2026 World Cup

French striker Kylian Mbappe has announced that he has made a full recovery from a knee injury and is eager to play all of Real Madrid's remaining matches in the season run-in. His goal is to build momentum towards the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will take place from June 11 to July 19.

Mbappe, 27, had missed four league games this year due to the lingering knee issue. However, he made a comeback by featuring off the bench in Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Atletico on Sunday.

The forward has been named in the French national squad for friendlies against Brazil on March 26 and Colombia three days later in the United States, which is co-hosting the 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.”

Mbappe had a standout performance in the 2022 World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in France's final loss to Argentina and winning the tournament's golden boot award with eight goals.

He also expressed frustration with speculative reports about his recovery, stating that “some false things have been said” about his return for the 1998 and 2018 world champions.

France will compete in Group I at the World Cup alongside Norway, Senegal, and the winner of an intercontinental playoff.