Mbappe Injured After Scoring Winner in Zidane's Debut Win
Kylian Mbappe scored the winner in Zinedine Zidane's debut as France beat Turkey 1:0, but suffered a concerning left tendon injury.
Kylian Mbappe handed Zinedine Zidane a victory in his debut as head manager of the French national team, but the festive evening ended in deep concern on Friday. The Real Madrid star scored the winning goal in a 1:0 victory over Turkey in the UEFA Nations League, but shortly afterwards injured his left knee and was forced to leave the pitch.
Zidane's Debut and Mbappe's Goal
Mbappe fired France ahead in the 55th minute, receiving a pass from Michael Olise before unleashing a powerful low shot into the back of the net. This marked his 67th international goal. However, immediately after striking the ball, Mbappe sat down on the grass in visible pain, clutching his left knee. There was no contact with any Turkish player, as the injury occurred entirely during the shooting motion.
The forward received medical attention and briefly returned to the pitch, but shortly afterwards grabbed his leg again and had to be substituted. The French Football Federation announced after the match that Mbappe "suffers from a tendon injury" and will miss the remainder of the team's Nations League fixtures. He is expected to return to Madrid for further examinations and treatment.
Growing Concerns in Madrid
"No, it doesn't look good. Unfortunately, it's not good," Zidane said with concern after the match. "He will have to return. We won't take any risks. He strained his tendon when he shot at the goal. It is very discouraging."
Real Madrid is also significantly concerned by the injury, particularly because it involves the same knee that caused Mbappe issues last season. The club is scheduled to conduct comprehensive medical tests, after which the extent of the injury and the potential recovery timeline can be determined.
Despite the injury, Mbappe successfully provided Zidane with a winning start to his tenure on the touchline. The French coach deployed the star on the left wing, with Olise on the opposite side, while Ousmane Dembele and Rayan Cherki completed the attacking quartet. France struggled to produce fluid football in the first half, partly due to the poor pitch conditions at the stadium in Kocaeli.
