Kylian Mbappé Misses Training Ahead of UEFA Nations League Opener

Kylian Mbappé sat out France’s training session on Tuesday, the only absentee from Zinédine Zidane’s 23-man squad at Clairefontaine, according to L’Équipe.

The Real Madrid forward had been on the pitch on Monday for Zidane’s first session in charge of Les Bleus, a symbolic moment as France’s new era began. Twenty-four hours later, he was nowhere to be seen on the training ground.

L’Équipe reports that the France captain is suffering from cold-like symptoms and remained inside the Château de Clairefontaine while the rest of the group worked outside in preparation for Friday night’s UEFA Nations League opener against Turkiye.

For Zidane, it is an early reminder of how quickly plans can be disrupted. For Mbappé, it is a race against the clock. The former Paris Saint-Germain star will be desperate to shake off the illness in time to lead his country into a demanding international window that also includes two meetings with Belgium and a clash with Italy.

Mbappé arrives in this camp with history already behind him. At last summer’s FIFA World Cup, he overtook Olivier Giroud to become France’s all-time leading scorer, a landmark that underlined his status as the face of the national team.

Now comes a potential tactical twist. RMC Sport reports that Zidane is considering moving Mbappé back to the left side of the attack, a role in which he has often thrived, which would open the door for Ousmane Dembélé to operate through the middle.

One training session missed in September would usually pass without comment. When it involves France’s record scorer, on the eve of a new coach’s first competitive match, it becomes the first subplot of Zidane’s reign.