Mbappé was pulled off just five minutes after giving France the lead against Turkey, instantly alarming fans tuned into Zidane’s debut with Les Bleus. Did anyone expect such a swift substitution?
The captain struck in the 54th minute, finishing from the box after Michael Olise’s pass, only to be swapped for Desire Doue at the 59th minute of the Nations League A Group 1 clash in Kocaeli.
After scoring, Mbappé stayed planted instead of celebrating, teammates rushing over as he clutched his left knee in obvious pain.
He stayed on his feet for a moment, yet the discomfort was clear, prompting the bench to ready a substitution well before the official change.
Medical scans are scheduled later to gauge the injury, while France hopes the results will allow their captain to feature throughout the remaining Nations League fixtures.
Cristiano Ronaldo playing at 41 remains a milestone Mbappé doesn’t envision reaching.
Zidane already coping with a squad riddled by absences. Will France manage to keep Mbappé fit for the rest of the Nations League?
Losing Mbappé to injury deals a fresh blow to Zidane just days into his tenure, especially after the squad was already trimmed before kickoff.
Ibrahima Konaté exited group training this week with right‑knee pain, opening the door for Leny Yoro, who earned his first senior call‑up.
Zidane also omitted Aurélien Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram as a precaution, unwilling to gamble on players still regaining full fitness.
Zidane will be desperate for good news on Mbappé, as his options look painfully thin on paper. In my view, Zidane’s bench looks alarmingly thin. The next hours will reveal whether this is a scare France can shrug off or another setback for a camp already battered.