No, Kylian Mbappe didn't get injured because he ditched Nike

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FT Desk

Kylian Mbappe is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up a knee injury while on international duty with France.

Les Bleus opened their new UEFA Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory away to Turkiye, with the Real Madrid striker making the decisive contribution shortly after half-time. Mbappe found the net 10 minutes into the second half, cutting a shot into the bottom-left corner from inside the penalty area.

However, Mbappe's celebrations were cut short when he appeared to be struggling with an injury and was seen limping away from the scene. He was subsequently taken off by Zinedine Zidane.

Speaking to French television after the match, Zidane admitted that the injury was a concern.

“No, it’s not good. It’s not good, unfortunately,” he said.

“We will not take risks.”

Earlier this month, Mbappe announced that he would be leaving Nike after a career-long partnership with the American firm to become the face of Swiss sportswear brand On.

Some social media users speculated that the Frenchman immediately injured himself after changing footwear, but one leading physio says that had little contribution to the knee problem he suffered playing for France.

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"Zero risk does not exist during a transition, but it is rarely the only cause," physiotherapist Farman Bhatti told Foot Mercato.

"Changing shoes and therefore the stiffness of the sole slightly modifies the biomechanics and the anchoring of the studs to the ground. However, Kylian Mbappé made a hyperextension on a very degraded lawn in Turkey. His injury is the result of several phenomena: accumulated fatigue, a fleeing ground that blocked his foot of support, AND the kinetic violence of his own gesture."

Mbappe’s latest knee injury adds to an increasingly lengthy list of fitness setbacks since his move to Real Madrid.

The issue picked up while on international duty represents the seventh separate injury Mbappe has suffered since joining Madrid on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the France international had already missed 14 Real Madrid matches because of injury before this latest setback, meaning he had been available for 88% of the club’s games.

That figure could now rise depending on how serious his latest knee problem proves to be. Zidane’s post-match comments offered little reassurance, with the manager making it clear that Madrid will not take unnecessary risks with their star forward.