Kylian Mbappe has departed from France’s national team camp following their 1-0 victory against Turkiye in their Nations League opener due to an injury.
Zinedine Zidane began his tenure as France’s head coach with a win, with Mbappe netting the game’s only goal just nine minutes into the second half.
Unfortunately, he appeared to injure his knee immediately after scoring and was substituted within five minutes after receiving treatment.
This marks Mbappe’s 12th international goal in 2026, matching his own record for the highest number of goals scored by a French player in a single calendar year in the 21st century (also 12 in 2022).
However, he will not participate further in this extended international window, as France confirmed via social media that “he is dealing with a tendon injury and will return to [Real] Madrid for treatment.”
In a post-match interview, Zidane conveyed his concerns about Mbappe to TF1, saying, “It’s unfortunate. I think he will need to go back. We’re not going to take any risks. He developed hypertension in his knee during the shot.” He added, “It’s not looking good for him to continue.”
Sur sa frappe victorieuse, Kylian Mbappé s’est blessé au genou. Il souffre d’une lésion tendineuse et est forfait pour la suite du rassemblement.
Bon rétablissement Kylian pic.twitter.com/S3YV9oscSO
— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance) September 25, 2026
Zidane’s victory marks the first time since Aime Jacquet in 1994 that a coach has won their inaugural match in charge of France, resulting in a record of D4 L1.
France currently holds second place in Group A1, trailing Belgium only on goal difference.
Zidane expressed his excitement over starting with a win, stating, “It’s very emotional. It’s a successful debut. It’s not easy to play in Turkiye with such a difficult atmosphere. We executed the game plan well.” He added, “We played effectively, pressing high, and I saw many promising aspects even after just three and a half training sessions.”
Turkiye remained competitive and had their chances, with Ismail Yuksek’s unmarked diving header prompting an excellent save from Mike Maignan. They matched France with 12 shots and had a slightly lower expected goals metric (1.1 xG compared to France’s 1.2).
“I am proud; it’s disappointing we couldn’t leave with a positive result,” Turkiye’s head coach Vincenzo Montella told Sky Sport Italia. “It was an outstanding performance, one of our best, especially against such a strong opponent.” He added, “We knew that one mistake could be costly, but I felt we created chances too, and it was a closely contested match. There was great team spirit, which we need to carry into our upcoming games.” He concluded, “I feel for my players; they truly gave their best.”
Fan Take: This news significantly impacts soccer fans as Kylian Mbappe is one of the sport’s brightest stars, and his injury may alter France’s prospects in upcoming matches. Moreover, Zidane’s debut as coach sets a promising tone for his leadership, raising excitement for what lies ahead in international soccer.
Source: www.soccernews.com
