Mbappé's Club World Cup campaign has been anything but smooth. The French forward was struck by severe gastrointestinal issues right before the tournament, eventually requiring hospitalization. According to L'Équipe, the culprit was bacterial food poisoning caused by chicken.

The incident began even before Real Madrid’s flight to Miami. Mbappé was already feeling unwell prior to departure, but his condition deteriorated rapidly once in the U.S. He developed a high fever and acute gastroenteritis, which alarmed the medical team. On the night of Wednesday, June 18, he was admitted to a hospital for further testing.

Initially, the situation was misdiagnosed as heat exhaustion. However, things took a worrying turn when doctors began suspecting appendicitis. After thorough examinations, it was confirmed the real issue was bacterial contamination from poultry, leading to food poisoning.

Once the cause was identified, Mbappé started recovering, albeit slowly. He was discharged late Thursday, but the toll was evident: the striker reportedly lost six kilograms, and his physical transformation was noticeable upon returning to training.

This unfortunate illness delayed his debut until July 1, when he played against Juventus in the round of 16. He followed that with another 30-minute appearance versus Borussia Dortmund, scoring a stunning goal that sealed Real Madrid’s progression.

Now, all eyes are on Xabi Alonso. With the semifinal against PSG approaching, the big question remains: will Mbappé be fit enough to start, or will Gonzalo García continue to lead the line?

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