Why isn’t Kylian Mbappé playing for Real Madrid vs. Al-Hilal in the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

With Mbappé sidelined, young striker Gonzalo García has been chosen to start up front for Los Blancos. He’ll be joined in the attack by Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo, as Real Madrid kicks off Group H play in Miami.

Real Madrid, one of the top contenders to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, is set to make its tournament debut this Wednesday against Al Hilal at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The match is part of Group H, which also includes Pachuca and RB Salzburg.

Xabi Alonso on Mbappé: “We’ll wait until the last minute”

Head coach Xabi Alonso, who will be making his official debut on the Real Madrid bench, was cautious about the forward’s availability: “Kylian felt a bit better this morning, but not well enough to train. We’ll wait until the last minute. Tomorrow morning we’ll make a final decision,” Alonso said during a press conference.

He also discussed tactical flexibility in the attack: “He’s not a traditional center-forward. He’s dynamic, not positional. We’ll rotate and adjust based on players’ individual qualities.”

Alonso did not confirm names, but gave clues that changes are expected in the frontline.

Mbappé sidelined with fever, will start on the bench

Despite boasting a star-studded roster, Madrid will be missing a key figure from the opening whistle: Kylian Mbappé. The French superstar is dealing with a fever that kept him out of Tuesday’s training session and has lingered since the day before.

Mbappé will not start, but he will be available on the bench. However, given his current physical condition, it’s unclear whether he’ll see any playing time in this first match.

Gonzalo García will step in to start up front for Real Madrid in place of Mbappé. The young Spanish striker will join Vinícius Jr. and Rodrygo in the attacking trio.

This marks a huge opportunity for García to shine on the world stage, as Madrid begins its quest for another international trophy.