Goal in Turkey comes at a heavy price? Major concern over Kylian Mbappe - Real star forced off injured for France after opening goal

Kylian Mbappe may have to pay a heavy price for France’s opening goal in the Nations League match in Turkey on Friday evening.

Michael Olise, Bayern Munich's star man, set him up and the Real Madrid striker fired Les Bleus into a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute with a fierce finish, with new national team coach Zinedine Zidane taking charge of his first match on the touchline.

Moments after scoring, though, Mbappe began limping slightly and grabbed his knee. After a brief celebration, the France medical staff treated him as he grimaced in pain, and he returned to the pitch shortly afterwards. That comeback lasted only a few minutes before Mbappe sank to the ground and signalled that he could not carry on after all. The 27-year-old looked very concerned, although it was not clear exactly where he might have hurt himself.

Who replaced Kylian Mbappe?

By the 59th minute, Desire Doue had replaced Mbappe, who walked off towards the dressing room in frustration. A diagnosis is, of course, still pending. However, the injury at least looked serious enough that it seems rather unlikely Mbappe will feature again in the upcoming Nations League matches in Belgium on Monday, against Italy next Friday and against Belgium again on 5 October.

Madrid will also be worried. His Real team-mate Arda Güler, who operated as Turkey's playmaker, checked on Mbappe's injury with concern while still on the pitch. The superstar has also been in scoring form so far this season, with Mbappe already on eight goals and two assists from eight appearances in all competitions for Real in 2026/27.