Kylian Mbappé remains a major doubt for Real Madrid ahead of their Copa del Rey final clash with FC Barcelona on April 26, as the French forward continues to recover from an ankle injury sustained in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal.
The Real Madrid star was visibly dejected when he left the pitch following the club’s elimination from Europe, a match in which he failed to make a significant impact.
Since then, Mbappé has yet to return to action, missing key league fixtures as he works towards regaining full fitness.
On Sunday, the 25-year-old was spotted in the stands of the Santiago Bernabéu, celebrating Federico Valverde’s late winner against Athletic Bilbao.
Though his presence lifted spirits among the home crowd, his absence from the pitch was once again felt, particularly as Real Madrid attempt to navigate the final stretch of the season without their leading scorer.
Real Madrid’s medical team has confirmed that Mbappé is still nursing a sprained ankle and will also be unavailable for the midweek La Liga fixture away to Getafe.
His condition will be re-evaluated later in the week, with a final verdict on his involvement in the final expected to be delivered by Thursday or Friday, according to Real France.
With the high-stakes showdown against Barcelona looming, manager Carlo Ancelotti and his staff are unwilling to take unnecessary risks.
“There’s no question of rushing the return of the club’s top scorer,” a source close to the team revealed, underscoring the priority of ensuring Mbappé’s long-term fitness rather than compromising it for a single match.
The uncertainty surrounding Mbappé’s availability poses a strategic dilemma for the Spanish giants, who are eager to bounce back from their European exit by clinching domestic silverware.
The final in Seville represents not only a shot at redemption but also a chance to close the gap on arch-rivals Barcelona, who currently lead La Liga by four points.
For now, Real Madrid must prepare for the Clasico finale with plans both with and without their marquee signing.
The club remains hopeful, but if Mbappé is to feature, he will need to pass critical fitness assessments in the coming days — a tense wait that may well define the shape of Madrid’s season end.
