Kylian Mbappé outside the squad for Real Madrid vs. Salzburg in the Club World Cup: The reasons behind the decision

Kylian Mbappé will miss his third straight match at the Club World Cup. Despite returning to training, Real Madrid’s staff chose not to rush his comeback. The French star will remain in Miami to focus on regaining full fitness, delaying his much-anticipated debut in the tournament once again.

Kylian Mbappé will miss yet another game as Real Madrid faces Salzburg in a decisive Club World Cup group stage match. The French star remains unavailable and has not been included in the squad, marking his third straight absence from the tournament. The reason: a persistent case of acute gastroenteritis that has sidelined him since June 16.

Although Mbappé returned to training with the team earlier today, the coaching staff deemed it too soon for him to be named in the squad. Instead, the decision was made for him to remain in Miami, focused on regaining full fitness after several days without training. This postpones Mbappé’s long-awaited debut in the competition, following his absences against Al Hilal and Pachuca.

Mbappé’s absence adds another headache for Xabi Alonso, who will not recover any injured players in time for this crucial clash. On top of that, Marco Asensio is now suspended, further complicating the situation.

In total, eight players will be unavailable for the must-win game against Salzburg, where Real Madrid is fighting to secure a spot in the Round of 16. The full list of absentees includes: Militão, Carvajal, Camavinga, Mendy, Endrick, Alaba, Mbappé, and Asensio — a significant blow that will test the depth of the squad.

Real Madrid’s squad list vs. Salzburg

Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fran González
Defenders: Trent, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Youssef, Jacobo Ramón
Midfielders: Bellingham, Valverde, Modrić, Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Ceballos, Chema, Mario Martín
Forwards: Vinícius, Rodrygo, Brahim, Gonzalo, Víctor Muñoz

Real Madrid will now rely on its young talent and bench depth to overcome the challenge and advance in the Club World Cup — all while fans continue to wait for Mbappé’s long-anticipated debut in a white shirt.