Will Kylian Mbappé play in Real Madrid vs PSG Club World Cup semifinal?

After recovering from an acute bout of gastroenteritis that kept him out of Real Madrid’s starting lineup throughout the Club World Cup, Kylian Mbappé is expected to start against his former team, Paris Saint-Germain. He would likely replace academy forward Gonzalo García, who impressed in earlier matches.

The highly anticipated clash between Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain and Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid is set to deliver a wave of special storylines. One of the most intriguing among them will be the emotional reunion of Kylian Mbappé with his former club, PSG. But the big question heading into the semifinal is: Will the French superstar start for Real Madrid?

Mbappé missed the start of Real Madrid’s Club World Cup campaign due to a bout of acute gastroenteritis that sidelined him for the early matches. Although he was available off the bench in the knockout rounds, he has yet to feature in the starting lineup throughout the tournament. That could change on Wednesday, as the forward is now reportedly fully recovered and fit to return to the starting eleven.

If he does start, Mbappé is expected to take the place of academy product Gonzalo García, who has been impressive in the Frenchman’s absence. García has scored or assisted in every game of the tournament and is currently tied as top scorer. Still, the return of a player of Mbappé’s caliber is hard to ignore, especially in a match loaded with narrative tension.

Luis Enrique, when asked about facing his former player, was brief and professional during the pre-match press conference. “That belongs to the past and doesn’t change anything,” the Spanish manager said. “We’re focused on the present. I have nothing to say about the past.” His words suggested a clear effort to steer the attention away from personal history and toward the task at hand.

Mbappé, on the other hand, stirred some intrigue on social media. The 2018 World Cup winner posted a cryptic photo of himself at the Parc des Princes—the home of PSG—sparking plenty of speculation among fans and media alike. The timing of the post, just hours before the game, did not go unnoticed.

The matchup between PSG and Real Madrid already had the makings of a classic semifinal, but Mbappé’s return adds an extra layer of drama. Whether or not he’s in the starting lineup, all eyes will be on the Frenchman as he faces his former teammates in what promises to be a defining moment in this year’s Club World Cup.