Kylian Mbappé faces Real Madrid or World Cup dilemma after conflicting knee diagnoses | OneFootball

Kylian Mbappé is at the centre of a medical stand-off after conflicting assessments of his knee injury. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Real Madrid have confirmed a sprain following external consultations, while tests in France have pointed to a more serious issue.

The French forward travelled home to see trusted specialists, who told him his posterior cruciate ligament, PCL, in his left knee is at its limit, not consistent with Madrid's diagnosis. The findings were more worrying than expected and left the player angered after playing through the problem. The damage could be a partial tear, allowing him to continue but undermining stability and risking a worse injury.

Mbappé has told Madrid he will not rush back until fully recovered, with fewer than 100 days until next summer's World Cup. His priority is to be in the United States with France in three months.

Madrid want him available for the Champions League last-16 second leg at Manchester City on 17 March, but the forward has pushed back, saying he will not return before he is fully fit. Meanwhile, Rodrygo Goes suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and an external meniscus tear in his right leg against Getafe, ending his season and his World Cup hopes.

The dispute extends into the March international break. Mbappé plans to travel to the United States with France for commercial duties as captain and has told Didier Deschamps he wants to attend, the squad's final engagement before the World Cup.

Footage in France has shown him out with friends, including Achraf Hakimi, while Madrid lost to Getafe at the Santiago Bernabéu, a development that has not gone down well at the club. The academy code of conduct requires players to attend their teams' matches.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo