When Kylian Mbappé finally stepped onto the pitch for Real Madrid’s Club World Cup match against Juventus on July 1st, it was a moment many fans had eagerly awaited. He came on for the last 20 minutes of the Round of 16 game, a welcome sight after what had been a tough time for the star forward. Whispers had spread about his absence, and now the full story behind his rough patch in the United States is becoming clear.
Turns out, Mbappé’s troubles began even before his flight to America. Once he landed, things really went downhill fast. He developed a high fever and a severe case of gastroenteritis. This serious stomach illness worried the Real Madrid staff, who rushed him to the hospital on June 18th. Doctors there ran several tests to figure out what was wrong. Initially, some thought he might be suffering from heatstroke, or even appendicitis.
But the real culprit was far less common. Tests revealed a nasty bacterium was to blame, one that, according to French newspaper ‘L’Equipe’, came from chicken meat. Once the cause was pinpointed, Mbappé received the right medication. He slowly began to recover, but the illness took a real toll on his body. He ended up losing a significant 6 kilograms during the entire ordeal.
After his 20 minutes against Juventus, Mbappé saw more action against Borussia Dortmund, playing for 30 minutes. He’s clearly building his fitness back up, step by step. Tonight, Real Madrid faces off against PSG in the semi-finals. All eyes will be on the team sheet to see if Mbappé is fit enough to start.