Spanish club Real Madrid received bad news ahead of the Champions League playoff match against Benfica on Wednesday. Star French forward Kylian Mbappé will be unable to play due to a knee injury. According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, “the pain suffered in the last 24 hours has led Mbappé and the Real Madrid staff to decide not to take any risks.” Thus, the Frenchman will miss a crucial match that could define the remainder of Real Madrid's 2025/26 season. Mbappé is the star player for Real Madrid this season, having played 33 matches, scored 38 goals, and provided five assists across all competitions. The first leg, played in Portugal, ended 1-0 in favor of the “Merengue,” thanks to the goal from Brazilian Vinicius Jr. A major controversy occurred during this match, as the goal scorer accused Argentine Gianluca Prestianni of calling him a monkey. UEFA rejected Benfica's appeal, so Prestianni will not be able to play in the return leg.
