Upon arriving in the US for the tournament, Kylian Mbappe was hospitalized with symptoms of gastroenteritis. However, according to the 9/7 edition of L'Equipe, the real cause was spoiled chicken. The French newspaper reported that Mbappe had been feeling unwell and experiencing stomach discomfort even before the trip. Upon arriving in the US, his condition worsened, with fever, nausea, and abdominal pain.
On 18/6, Real Madrid admitted Mbappe to the hospital. Doctors considered various possibilities, from heat exhaustion to appendicitis. However, test results revealed food poisoning as the true culprit.
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Mbappe celebrates his goal during Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Dortmund on 5/7/2025, forming the number 20 with his hands to commemorate the recently deceased Diogo Jota. Photo: AFP |
Mbappe celebrates his goal during Real Madrid's 3-2 victory over Dortmund on 5/7/2025, forming the number 20 with his hands to commemorate the recently deceased Diogo Jota. Photo: AFP
The incident resulted in a 5 kg weight loss and overall weakness for Mbappe. Coach Xabi Alonso was forced to sideline his star striker for all three group stage matches, where Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Al Hilal, defeated Pachuca 3-1, and Salzburg 3-0. Mbappe returned to the pitch in the second half of the round of 16, a 1-0 victory against Juventus, and the quarterfinals, a 3-2 win over Dortmund, contributing a goal in the latter match.
During Mbappe's absence, 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia helped fill the void in the attack, scoring four goals in five matches. He joined Angel Di Maria, Marcos Leonardo, and Serhou Guirassy at the top of the goalscoring charts.
On the evening of 9/7, Real Madrid will face PSG in the semi-finals. Mbappe played for PSG for seven years, scoring a record 256 goals before joining the Spanish club in the summer of 2024. The winner of the Real Madrid-PSG match will advance to the final to face Chelsea, who defeated Fluminense 2-0 in the first semi-final.
The final will take place on the evening of 13/7.
Thanh Quy (according to L'Equipe)
