The France captain was replaced after 81 minutes of the 1-1 La Liga draw with Real Betis on Friday.

Real said Mbappe had been “diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg” and that they were “awaiting progress”.

Real, who are 11 points behind leaders Barcelona in the table with five games remaining, visit Espanyol on Sunday before travelling to the Nou Camp on 10 May.

They were knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich last week and face the prospect of a trophyless season.

Mbappe, who missed almost a month earlier this year with a knee issue, has scored 24 goals in 28 La Liga games and 15 goals in 11 Champions League matches this season.

The World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico starts on 11 June.

France striker Mbappe, 27, was diagnosed with a left knee sprain at the beginning of March and has been missing from Real’s line-up since their La Liga game against Osasuna on 21 February.

Bellingham sustained a hamstring injury less than 10 minutes into a league game against Rayo Vallecano on 1 February and left the field in tears.

The 22-year-old midfielder had initially been expected to miss about four weeks, but the injury was found to be more significant than first thought.

It had raised doubts about his availability for England’s friendlies later this month against Uruguay and Japan.

Real travel to Manchester in control of the tie, having won the first leg 3-0 at the Bernabeu last Wednesday when Federico Valverde scored a first-half hat-trick.

The margin of victory could have been greater, but City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma saved Vinicius Jr’s penalty early in the second half.

The 27-year-old France international has been struggling with an injury to the external ligament of his left knee since the end of 2025.

He missed last week’s Champions League play-off second leg against Benfica and travelled to Paris for more tests.

Mbappe will be absent for the La Liga fixture with Getafe on Monday, while his availability to face Manchester City in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie next week is not clear.

Real Madrid said “the diagnosis of a sprain in his left knee has been confirmed” and Mbappe will continue with the current course of “conservative treatment”.

Mbappe’s representatives said he was in the French capital with members of the Real Madrid medical staff.

“In agreement with the club, he is undergoing further tests on his knee with the aim of optimising his follow-up care and preparing for his comeback,” said a statement.

“No surgical intervention is being planned at the moment.”

Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa said last week the decision to allow Mbappe, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances for the club this season, time to get back to full fitness was a mutual one.

“It was a bit of a consensus between everyone and we think the best thing is that he stops, that he recovers and comes back at 100%,” Arbeloa said.

“It’s not going to be a question of days, it will be a bit longer, but I can’t say how long. Hopefully not too long.”

Following their disappointing Champions League outing in midweek, during which Anatoliy Trubin’s last-gasp goal for Benfica left Los Blancos facing a playoff clash against the same opponents, Real will have been desperate to start on the front foot here.

Their efforts at building momentum, though, suffered a setback when Jude Bellingham was in tears as he was forced off with a hamstring injury in the opening stages.

Still, while the visitors had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead inside the opening five minutes when Ilias Akhomach wriggled into some space inside the area before dragging his shot wide, Alvaro Arbeloa’s team were in front by the quarter-hour mark. Vinicius Junior had not scored in LaLiga since October 4th 2025, but he broke his drought in some style here, curling into the top corner from just inside the box.

The rest of the half passed by with limited opportunities, the best of which came from Arda Guler as he forced Augusto Batalla into an important stop from a tight angle. As HT approached, Rayo improved and grew into the game, but their difficulties in front of goal this term – only two sides in the Spanish top flight had scored fewer than their 17 goals prior to kick-off – were underlined by the fact they failed to work Thibaut Courtois before the interval.

Within five minutes of the restart, though, they were back on level terms. A searching ball towards the back post was headed back into the danger area by Alvaro Garcia, and Jorge de Frutos was on hand to sweep past Courtois.

Both sides then had a gilt-edged opportunity apiece to take the lead; first, Real’s goalkeeper produced a crucial one-on-one stop to deny Andrei Rațiu when the visiting right-back led a counter-attack, before Mbappe hit the bar with the goal at his mercy after Batalla was found in no man’s land trying to intercept the pass into the France international.

Real received a significant boost when Pathe Ciss was sent off for a high challenge on Dani Ceballos, who was next to go close when he placed a shot narrowly wide of the post as the match approached its climax.

Eduardo Camavinga then hit the upright with a header, but Real had a golden chance in the 10th minute of stoppage time when a penalty was awarded after Nobel Mendy felled Brahim Diaz. From the spot, Mbappe made no mistake, sending Batalla the wrong way to secure the points.

It was a huge win for Real, who are now back to within one point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona, but to lose in such fashion is a crushing blow for Rayo, who received another red card when Pep Chavarria received a second yellow card for a push on Rodrygo. They are now just one point above the relegation zone and have won only one of their past 12 league games.

One aspect of Mbappe’s legal victory raised eyebrows – PSG were told they must hand over 1.5m euros (£1.3m) in “ethics bonus” payments to the France forward.

For football fans in the UK an ethics bonus might sound a little strange, but in France it is a normal part of a professional athlete’s contract.

The “ethics bonus” has made headlines before, primarily when details of Neymar’s PSG contract were revealed by Spanish newspaper El Mundo.

The Brazil forward’s deal stipulated a monthly ethics payment of 541,680 euros (£475,876). For Mbappe the bonus was worth 500,000 euros (£438,000) a month.

Reports picked up on clauses that required Neymar to show “courtesy, friendliness and availability to supporters”. He was also expected to “greet fans before and after each game”.

The truth behind the ethics bonus is very different.

What is an ‘ethics bonus’?

In English football, clubs are able to fine a player up to two weeks’ wages for a misdemeanour.

French law forbids any deductions from a worker’s salary. Sports teams therefore make a small portion of it an ethics bonus. The base wage and the ethics bonus are in effect a player’s total salary.

In 2021 it was claimed in some reports that Neymar received extra money for clapping the fans, but the details paint a different picture.

Neymar was expected to behave responsibly to sponsors and referees. He had to turn up to training on time and was barred from placing bets. In effect, it was a moral code.

“Clubs are very keen to protect their image,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport.

“They don’t want anybody going nuclear and criticising the club, which means that they call them good behaviour clauses.

“We saw similar with Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong [who had morals clauses with sponsors]. So behavioural clauses are quite common within sport.”

In 2018, Marco Verratti had part of his ethics bonus withheld after being caught drink-driving.

Hatem Ben Arfa also lost the bonus when he failed to attend PSG’s mid-season training camp in Qatar.

In 2023, Lionel Messi was punished by PSG after making an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

Rugby union club Racing 92 took action against winger Teddy Thomas by “retaining his ethics bonus for February” after an incident following a Six Nations match between France and Scotland.

Neymar’s ethics clause

Source: El Mundo

Star players can earn ‘another 40%’ in bonus payments

Bonuses are now a large part of a player’s contract. They cover loyalty payments, received each year on the anniversary of a player joining a club, through to image rights and goal bonuses.

“The contract which used to be written on the back of a napkin is now an investment by a series of stakeholders,” Maguire said.

“You’ve got the club, you’ve got the agent, you’ve got the management company, you’ve got the player. And quite often the player’s intellectual property rights company as well.

“I’ve seen some of the big six contracts, and there are 25% uplifts for Champions League participation.”

The world’s best players are in such high demand they could earn huge top-ups through their image rights, as high as “60% basic and another 40% on top of that”, Maguire added.

Lawyers for PSG and Mbappé argued last month before the Conseil de prud’hommes de Paris, with each side demanding hundreds of millions of euros from the other regarding the end of the player’s contract before his move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2024.

Amid accusations of betrayal and harassment surrounding the breakdown of their relationship, Mbappé’s lawyers claimed PSG owes him more than 260 million euros ($305 million).

They argued his fixed-term contract should be reclassified as a permanent one, triggering compensation for unfair dismissal and unpaid wages. They have also alleged moral harassment and undeclared work.

PSG, meanwhile, sought 440 million euros from Mbappé, citing damages and a “loss of opportunity” after he left on a free transfer.

Tuesday’s decision can be appealed and is unlikely to end the dispute.

The ruling may have broader consequences for player contracts and labour law in French soccer, even as PSG maintains that Mbappé’s request to reclassify his contract as a permanent one is without legal basis.

The club argues that professional players’ contracts are a special form of fixed-term agreements regulated by the sports code and validated by the French professional league, in accordance with both French and European Union law.

Mbappé’s legal team disagrees, saying the reclassification of a fixed-term contract into a permanent contract is a standard procedure when legal conditions for a fixed-term deal are not fulfilled.

The relationship between the 2018 World Cup winner and the reigning European champion turned bitter when Mbappé decided in 2023 not to extend his contract, which was set to expire in summer 2024.

This deprived the club of a juicy transfer fee despite having offered him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new deal in 2022.

He was sidelined from a preseason tour and forced to train with fringe players.

He missed the opening league game but returned to the lineup for a final season after discussions with the club – talks that are central to the dispute.

The club accused Mbappé of backing out of an August 2023 agreement that allegedly included a pay reduction should he leave on a free transfer, an arrangement PSG said was meant to protect its financial stability.

PSG claimed Mbappé hid his decision not to extend his contract for nearly 11 months, from July 2022 to June 2023, preventing the club from arranging a transfer and causing major financial harm. It accused him of violating contractual obligations and the principles of good faith and loyalty.

Mbappé’s camp insisted PSG has never produced evidence that the striker agreed to forego any payment. His lawyers claimed the club failed to pay wages and bonuses for April, May, and June 2024. They are also seeking reclassification of his fixed-term contract into a permanent one, which would trigger compensation.

Mbappé also accused PSG of moral harassment, citing his treatment when sidelined.

PSG rejected all accusations of harassment, highlighting that Mbappé took part in over 94% of matches in 2023–24 and always worked under conditions compliant with the Professional Football Charter.

The 26-year-old Real Madrid forward is claiming the sum, which includes 55m euros (£46.3m) in unpaid wages, from the European champions as damages in response to a contract dispute and alleged perceived ill-treatment by the club.

PSG, however, are claiming their figure as compensation for Mbappe’s failed 300m euros transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in 2023.

He joined Spanish giants Real Madrid on a free transfer the following summer.

The tribunal is not expected to come to a decision for several weeks.

The long-running dispute began in July 2023, when Mbappe turned down the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Mbappe believes he was sidelined by the French champions for that decision and for refusing to sign a contract extension.

He was not invited to take part in PSG’s pre-season tour of Asia and missed their first match of the season before being reinstated to the side.

PSG claim this followed the player’s agreement to forgo some of his end-of-contract payments to protect the club’s financial health.

However, Mbappe’s representatives have dismissed this as “fantasy”, with the player still waiting for salary and bonus payments.

Following Monday’s hearing, PSG said they were seeking “recognition of the significant damages suffered by the club” for what they called Mbappe’s “serious breaches of his legally binding contractual commitments”.

The club say Mbappe “acted disloyally by concealing for nearly eleven months, between July 2022 and June 2023, his decision not to extend his contract”.

They also rejected any claim of “harassment or pressure” and said Mbappe “benefited from exceptional conditions for seven years at Paris St-Germain”.

Mbappe was at PSG from 2017 to 2024, and scored 256 goals in 308 games, winning 15 trophies.

The Real Madrid striker was initially claiming 55m euros (£46.3m) in unpaid wages from the Ligue 1 champions in a dispute which went through French football’s governing bodies before reaching the courts.

The France captain slotted a penalty into the bottom corner early on after home goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza came flying out of his area and took out Franco Mastantuono.

He doubled his tally in the 52nd minute when he latched on to Thibaut Courtois’ ball over the top and dinked it over Kalmurza.

In the 67th minute Valeri Gromyko appeared to be fouled by Dani Ceballos, with a penalty awarded to Kairat, but the decision was overturned after a VAR check.

Despite missing an excellent chance to seal his hat-trick when he sent the ball wide with the goal gaping, Mbappe did eventually finish from close range to complete his treble.

Substitutes Eduardo Camavinga and Brahim Diaz both scored to complete the rout in the closing stages.

Camavinga headed home from close range and Diaz slotted into the bottom corner from Gonzalo Garcia’s pass as Kairat fell to their heaviest defeat in European competition.

It was a much-needed win for Xabi Alonso’s side after a 5-2 humbling by city rivals Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.

Mbappe’s goals were his 58th, 59th and 60th in the Champions League and meant he overtook former Bayern Munich striker Thomas Muller to become the sixth highest scorer in the competition’s history.

Los Blancos were handed an early blow when Trent Alexander-Arnold pulled up with what appeared to be a hamstring injury after only three minutes.

And they suffered another setback when the England full-back’s replacement, Dani Carvajal, was sent off with 18 minutes left after he faced off with Geronimo Rulli and moved his head towards the Marseille goalkeeper.

But the 15-time European champions emerged victorious thanks to Mbappe, who twice stepped up to slam spot-kicks past Rulli, taking his club tally to six in five games this season.

Timothy Weah had opened the scoring for Marseille in the 22nd minute, beating Thibaut Courtois with a powerful strike after former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood stole possession from Arda Guler in the middle of the pitch.

But their lead lasted just six minutes as Mbappe, who had come close to scoring in the early stages with an acrobatic bicycle kick, converted his first penalty after Geoffrey Kondogbia had brought down Rodrygo in the box.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang twice came close to restoring the French side’s lead, but dragged the first effort wide, before Courtois punched away the ex-Arsenal captain’s second strike.

Even after Carvajal’s red card, Real continued to create chances and were rewarded for their efforts when visiting defender Facundo Medina handled following a strong challenge to stop Vinicius Jr in the box.

Once again, Mbappe kept his cool and his penalty had enough pace to beat Rulli, who had guessed the right way.

Mbappe capitalised on a defensive error to notch his fourth league goal of the season, but Madrid’s task was made harder when defender Dean Huijsen was shown a red card.

France striker Mbappe then turned provider for Arda Guler to give Madrid a 2-0 lead.

Socieded reduced the deficit when Mikel Oyarzaba converted from the penalty spot.

Madrid are top of the table with 12 points from four games – five ahead of defending champions Barcelona, who are fifth and face Valencia at 20:00 BST on Sunday.

Xabi Alonso’s side took the lead when Sociedad winger Mikel Goti’s casual backpass caught his defence flat-footed. Mbappe comfortably outpaced Igor Zubeldia then shrugged off Duje Caleta-Car before he crisply fired home from the edge of the penalty area.

Madrid were reduced to 10 men in the 32nd minute when Oyarzaba broke clear and was hauled down by Huijsen.

Mbappe had a major hand in Madrid’s second when he outfoxed Aritz Elustondo and cut the ball back from the byline through a crowded box for Guler to stylishly poke home.

Sociedad were awarded a penalty shortly after half-time when Ander Barrenetxea’s cross struck Dani Carvajal on the arm, and Oyarzaba calmly sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way from the spot.

Madrid showed their defensive fortitude – Trent Alexander-Arnold came on for Carvajal in the 82nd minute – to see out the game, which gave Basque-born Alonso a win over a club where he has strong ties.

Alonso climbed through the ranks at Sociedad, played 126 games for their first team and began his senior coaching career in charge of the B side.

Mbappe – who scored the only goal against Osasuna – made it three from two games as he first struck eight minutes before half time with a finish from the edge of the box, before sidefooting home a second late on.

Trent Alexander-Arnold, meanwhile, was among the substitutes for this game after starting in the previous fixture, with boss Xabi Alonso instead picking Dani Carvajal at right back.

The England international came on for the final three minutes of the game when Real were 2-0 up.

Vinicius Jr, who also started on the bench, added a third in stoppage time with a clinical strike.

Alonso started 18-year-old Franco Mastantuono in attack and the teenager impressed with a lively display.

Oviedo’s best chance came in the 81st minute when Kwasi Sibo’s long-range effort struck the outside of the post just before Mbappe got his second to make the win safe.

The win means Real join rivals Barcelona and Villarreal on six points after two games.

Paris St-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele goes into Wednesday’s Club World Cup semi-final against Real Madrid tipped by many to claim this year’s prize for the world’s best player.

His goals have already helped a young and vibrant PSG side win the Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France this season – now he has his eyes on completing a quadruple in the United States.

Not only does the tie at the MetLife Stadium in New York pit the current European champions against the record winners of the competition, it also sees Dembele go head to head with friend and former PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe.

Mbappe is PSG’s record goalscorer with 256 goals after joining them from Monaco on an initial loan in 2017, but it was not until after his departure that football’s holy grail – the Champions League – finally ended up in Paris.

Ironically, you could also credit Mbappe’s PSG exit last summer with paving the way for 28-year-old Dembele to have the greatest season of his career to date.

‘If he doesn’t win it there is a problem with the Ballon d’Or’

Most people believe this year’s Ballon d’Or – with the nominations due in August – is a straight race between France’s Dembele and Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal. It has been eight years in the making for the former.

His talent has never been in question.

France striker Dembele was once the second-most expensive player in the world when he signed for Barcelona from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £135.5m in 2017 and, four years later, was described by Barca president Joan Laporta as “better than Mbappe”.

A week later, the newly-appointed Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez said he was a player who “when used properly, could be the best player in the world”.

Four years on and with his six-year spell of inconsistency and unfulfilled potential at Barcelona behind him, Dembele is certainly being used properly.

He has scored 34 goals and made 15 assists in 51 matches in all competitions in the season of his life so far, with those close to him adamant his form warrants the ultimate accolade on 22 September.

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi told DAZN before Wednesday’s heavyweight semi-final: “Ousmane’s season is magnificent.

“If he doesn’t win it, there is a problem with the Ballon d’Or. He has done everything.”

PSG needed a new talisman – step forward Dembele

In August 2023, PSG bought the France international for just £43.5m, and he scored six goals and made 14 assists as PSG won the league and cup double.

He was far from the main man though with club-record scorer Mbappe netting 44 in all competitions in the best of his seven seasons for PSG. It turned out to be his last as Real Madrid came calling.

A new-look PSG needed a new leader and talisman. Step forward Dembele.

Last summer, manager Luis Enrique told Dembele that without Mbappe in the team he needed more goals from him to go with his large number of assists – carte blanche for the player to show a more selfish approach with less passing and a bigger desire to score.

In private, the coaching staff have frequently told him that if he managed to convert a decent percentage of the chances he creates, it could lead to collective success and then individual honours.

Dembele took it all on board and has relished playing in his new tactical role.

In 2023-24, he was mostly played on the right. There was no way of dislodging Mbappe from the central role.

Now he operates as a false nine, inside, where he touches the ball more, enjoys a greater freedom to receive passes and participates in the build-up but with more chances to finish.

“Would I vote for Dembele? Yes,” Mbappe said when asked who should win the Ballon d’Or last month.

“I don’t think it needs much explaining. People are talking about Lamine Yamal and Dembele, but my choice is clear: I vote for Dembele.”

Dembele was once Barca’s most-fined player – what changed?

To put Dembele’s transformation solely down to Mbappe’s Real move would be wrong. That was simply the final piece in the jigsaw.

Despite being largely injury free at Rennes and Dortmund, he sustained 14 muscle injuries in his time at the Nou Camp, spending 784 days sidelined.

Concerns over discipline and professionalism led the club to assign private chefs to him, while late nights because of gaming affected his training punctuality, making him the club’s most-fined player in recent years.

Still, when fit, his explosive pace and dribbling made him a game-changer, as he showed glimpses of the talent Barcelona invested in.

So what changed him?

Those that know Dembele best – and few do – say he changed after marrying his girlfriend Rima in Morocco in December 2021, and soon after he had a child.

The wedding came as a surprise to many of his team-mates, not least because they did not even know he had a partner.

So the big changes to his life occurred in his last two seasons at Barcelona when, essentially, he grew up.

Dembele worked at home with a physiotherapist and frequently went to France to receive specialised preventative treatments. With the eyes and mind of a father, he began to see things differently.

He finally took on board the importance of good nutrition and, for the past few seasons, has employed a French nutritionist who has helped him maintain a healthier lifestyle.

For some time many believed that a Champions League triumph for PSG would be dependent on the on-field achievements of one of France’s heroes.

They were right – just not with Mbappe, but a rejuvenated Dembele.

Gonzalo Garcia added his fourth goal in the side’s five matches of the competition after volleying in Arda Guler’s cross in the 10th minute and Fran Garcia tapped in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross 10 minutes later.

Madrid were coasting towards a 2-0 victory but substitute Maximilian Beier hit the first for Dortmund, sparking a dramatic end to the game.

Substitute Kylian Mbappe scored an acrobatic volley shortly after but defender Dean Huijsen was sent off for giving away a penalty just seconds later, after pulling back striker Serhou Guirassy, who then converted from the penalty spot.

It was too late to change the outcome – still a victory for Real, but by three goals to two – and the competition’s breakout attacker Garcia put himself pole position to win the golden boot at the Club World Cup, level on a four-goal tally with Angel di Maria and Marcos Leonardo, who have both now been eliminated from the competition.

The France captain, 26, missed training on Tuesday with a fever and did not play in Wednesday’s 1-1 Fifa Club World Cup draw against Al-Hilal in Miami.

Real announced on Thursday he was in hospital with an “acute case of gastroenteritis” but hours later confirmed he had been released.

He has returned to Real Madrid’s training complex in Palm Beach.

A club statement read: “Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to team activity.”

Real’s next game is against Pachuca on Sunday at 20:00 BST.

Gastroenteritis is an infection in the gut which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

If Mbappe does not recover in time to play Pachuca, he could potentially return for Real’s final group game against Salzburg on 26 June.

Mbappe scored 43 goals in 56 games in all competitions for Real in his first season after joining on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain.

This is Real’s first competition under Xabi Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti as manager at the end of the La Liga season.

Real won the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Intercontinental Cup in Mbappe’s first season in Spanish football.

In a statement released on Thursday, Real said: “Our player Kylian Mbappe has acute gastroenteritis and has been hospitalised for various tests and treatment.”

Gastroenteritis is an infection in the gut which can cause symptoms of vomiting or diarrhoea.

The 26-year-old France skipper missed training on Tuesday with a fever and did not feature in Real’s 1-1 draw with Al Hilal on Wednesday.

Los Blancos boss Xabi Alonso said after the game that the forward had experienced “significant viral issues” and that he would be assessed before the next game.

Real take on Pachuca on Sunday, before rounding off Group H with a game against RB Salzburg next Friday.

Mbappe netted 43 goals in 56 games in his debut Real campaign, having joined the club on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

His understudy, 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia, scored Real’s goal as the Spanish giants were held to a draw by four-time Asian Champions League winner Al Hilal in the Club World Cup.

Ruben Neves converted a penalty for Al Hilal to level proceedings, before Madrid’s Federico Valverde had a spot-kick saved in added time by Yassine Bounou.

“The second half was much better than the first,” Alonso said in his post-match news conference. “In the first half we lacked a lot of things, we didn’t have balance. We’ve talked about that.

“I liked the reaction. We were able to change our rhythm, have more control, and play more in the opposition half. It’s a process. We have to take the positives and look to improve.”

Alonso, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti after Madrid failed to claim any major silverware last season, continued: “I knew it would take time.

“There are things we have to change. We’ll have to correct them, and we’ll keep doing that. Everything takes time, we’ve had nine days, and some players have had just three training sessions.

“It’s demanding, we’re in a competition, but we want to learn, and what we want to do will take time.”

The France international scored 31 league goals in his debut season in Spain, meaning he also won La Liga’s top scorer prize.

A double in Real’s final game of the season secured Mbappe top spot in the rankings ahead of Sporting striker Victor Gyokeres (39 goals) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (29 goals).

Though Gyokeres scored eight more league goals than Mbappe, he finished runner-up because a weighted-points based system decides the rankings.

Goals scored by players competing in Europe’s top five leagues – Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 – are worth two points.

Goals from those who play in leagues ranked sixth to 22nd in Uefa’s coefficient, including the Portuguese Primeira Liga, are worth 1.5 points.

Mohamed Salah needed a hat-trick in Liverpool’s final Premier League match against Crystal Palace on Sunday in order to share the prize with Mbappe. The Egypt international scored once in a 1-1 draw.

Mbappe is just the third Real player to win the award, after Hugo Sanchez (1989-90) and Cristiano Ronaldo (2010-11, 2013-14 and 2014-15).

Gyokeres – who has been heavily linked with a summer move to Arsenal – had no chance of catching Mbappe because Sporting’s league campaign ended the previous weekend.

After scoring in his side’s 3-1 defeat of Lisbon rivals Benfica in the Portuguese Cup final on Sunday, the Sweden international finished the season with 53 goals in 51 games in all competitions.

The top five in the rankings were as follows: Mbappe (62 points), Gyokeres (58.5), Salah (58), Robert Lewandowski (54), Harry Kane (52).

The result of the match was academic, with Barcelona already confirmed as champions and Real runners-up.

But Mbappe ensured Los Blancos signed off the campaign with success, as well as putting himself in the driving seat to win the European Golden Shoe.

The France striker opened the scoring in the 38th minute, firing in after his penalty had initially been saved, and got his second with seven minutes left through a left-footed strike.

Mbappe’s first season at Real Madrid got off to a slow start but he finished it in blistering fashion with 11 goals in his final six league games. He is almost certain to finish as La Liga’s top scorer as he leads Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski by six goals with the newly crowned champions facing Athletic Club on Sunday.

But while Mbappe represents Real Madrid’s future, the day was about celebrating their past with the departures of boss Ancelotti and midfielder Modric.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Real Madrid fans paid tribute to Carlo Ancelotti with a banner

Ancelotti, who joined the Spanish giants for a second spell in 2021, is leaving to take charge of the Brazil national team on 26 May.

The Italian departs having won 15 trophies across two stints as Real manager, including the Champions League and La Liga titles last season.

A banner paying tribute to Ancelotti was displayed before kick-off, while Croatia legend Modric made his final appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu after confirming earlier this week he will leave following the Fifa Club World Cup this summer.

Modric, 39, has won has won 28 trophies, including six Champions Leagues and four domestic titles, since joining from Tottenham in 2012.

He went off to a huge ovation in the final few minutes of this game, receiving a guard of honour from Real Madrid and Sociedad players as he departed, hugging team-mates before his family greeted him on the edge of the pitch.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: Luka Modric also had a banner displayed in tribute to him, as well as his shirt number on display in the centre-circle before kick-off

An ongoing legal dispute, though, has continued to sour relations between the forward and his hometown club for the best part of a year.

Specifically, the Real Madrid striker is claiming 55m euros (£46.3m) in unpaid wages from the Ligue 1 champions.

This sum, plus tax obligations, was frozen from the club’s accounts by a Paris court following a request by Mbappe’s legal team last month.

Central to the contention is the French forward’s ill-fated contract extension in 2022, which notably involved him posing alongside club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on the Parc des Princes pitch, brandishing a shirt with “2025” on the back.

More specifically, however, the Frenchman had signed a two-year deal with an optional extra season – a crucial detail which would only later emerge publicly.

A year later, a letter from Mbappe indicating that he had no intention of triggering that option surfaced.

While it only reached the PSG management in June 2023, the document was dated less than two months after he had put pen to paper the previous summer.

Faced with the prospect of losing their 180m euro (£165.7m) signing on a free transfer, PSG presented the forward with two options: either leaving as early as that summer, or coming to an agreement that would soften the financial blow to the club at the end of the season – once he inevitably fulfilled his long-held ambition of joining Real Madrid.

The forward was duly placed on the market and notably rejected a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.

“If he wants to leave, then the door is open,” Al-Khelaifi would declare at boss Luis Enrique’s unveiling in early July.

As the start of the 2023-24 campaign approached, Mbappe found himself in the “loft”, French football’s term describing the group of players left to train away from the rest of the first team during a transfer window, effectively pushing them towards the exit door.

The practice is oft-criticised, not least by the French players’ union, but is nonetheless authorised under France’s Charter for Professional Football, which stipulates that the marginalised players must be brought back into the fold come the end of the summer.

The Champions League finalists claim that, at the dawn of that campaign, Mbappe agreed to forgo a total of 55m euros (£46.3m) in bonuses from the deal he signed the previous summer.

This agreement, according to the club, was reached verbally over a meeting with several club representatives, in the form of a “gentlemen’s agreement” which subsequently allowed for Mbappe’s return to the first team after being left out of the squad for the pre-season tour of Japan and the season opener.

Mbappe himself would make reference to an agreement in the wake of the Trophee des Champions match against Toulouse in January 2024 – at which point he was free to sign a pre-contract elsewhere.

In the mixed zone he told journalists that, despite still being undecided on his future, “the agreement I reached with the president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] last summer protects all the parties, regardless of my decision”.

The France captain eventually announced his departure towards the close of the 2023-24 campaign.

His Parc des Princes send-off would be somewhat overshadowed by the title celebrations. A tifo in the stands and a short message during the trophy ceremony the only farewell gestures towards the evening’s captain, who scored the last of his 256 goals for the club early in the match.

Image source: Getty Images

Image caption: PSG fans greeted Mbappe with a tifo before his final game for the club

‘An era-defining week awaits PSG’

The striker’s legal team, however, now assert that the “gentleman’s agreement” is invalid as the additional clause was never signed.

As a result, they are claiming Mbappe is owed 55m euros – a sum made up of the final third of his signing-on fee and three months’ worth of wages which were unpaid.

They argue that a written contractual amendment would have had to be signed and submitted to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) – the governing body for France’s two professional divisions – for the change to be valid, and that no “tangible proof” of an agreement has been presented.

Mbappe brought the case to the LFP, whose disciplinary commission initially issued a non-binding ruling that PSG were to pay the sum.

It later deemed itself to have no jurisdiction over the matter because of an ongoing civil court case, which the player’s team claims was only launched by PSG against the LFP “in order to avoid disciplinary action”.

In February, the French Football Federation (FFF) dismissed Mbappe’s subsequent appeal on the same grounds.

Speaking to BBC Sport, a lawyer with knowledge of PSG’s case explains that the LFP’s decision came from the fact that it could make a judgement based on the original contract – “but what’s being debated is whether it was amended”.

In December, following the LFP’s latest decision, a club spokesperson reiterated that Mbappe had “made clear public and private commitments that the club simply asks to be honoured”, and that PSG remained hopeful of “an amicable solution”.

The club also claimed that Mbappe refused the LFP’s offer for mediation.

Last month, Mbappe’s lawyers held a press conference to announce they had “gone on the attack”, having notably obtained the seizure of the 55m euros from PSG’s accounts through a court decision.

They also indicated that they were filing a complaint claiming PSG put pressure on Mbappe to renew, which the club denies, and that they had sent a letter to the FFF asking them to notify Uefa on the situation.

In a hearing on Monday, after PSG contested the precautionary seizure, the club announced that a counterclaim for 98m euros (£82.6m) in damages would be brought forward as part of their wider case.

In their court submission, the club’s lawyers asserted that the counterclaim was prompted by Mbappe’s “deceptive behaviour during negotiations to revise his contract”.

The striker’s team, meanwhile, reiterated that despite the counterclaim there was “no legal basis for deferring payment of the sum due”.

“The aim is not to recover the 98m euros, but rather to show that if he owes us money, his claim is unfounded,” PSG lawyer Renaud Semerdjian told the AFP.

For the club, the standoff also represents a reversal in the days where player power reigned supreme – the new-look (albeit still as spendthrift) PSG styles itself as a project built around a collective unit rather than individual talents.

Mbappe’s team, meanwhile, claimed in their April press conference that it was PSG who had put him under pressure to re-sign back in 2023 through “scandalous and indecent practices”, and that they would be joining the players’ union in its legal action against the “lofts”.

A decision on the seizing of the club’s accounts is expected on 26 May – the same day as a separate hearing on the wider case, in which the French football authorities initially dismissed Mbappe’s appeals.

While the 26-year-old will have wrapped up his maiden season in Spain the previous evening, Paris St-Germain will be in the midst of a week bookended by the Coupe de France and Champions League finals.

It could be an era-defining week both on and off the pitch for the Parisians.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side took the lead in the 33rd minute when a short corner was worked to Arda Guler, whose curling shot found the top corner via a slight deflection.

Mbappe doubled the advantage six minutes later with a thumping finish high past Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita at the end of a swift Madrid counter.

The France striker got his second three minutes into the second half as he ran on to Guler’s excellent through ball to slot left-footed into the bottom corner.

But the visitors kept going and Javi Rodriguez pulled one back with a little over 20 minutes remaining with a close-range finish after Madrid failed to clear a corner.

What had looked like being a comfortable win suddenly became very tense when Celta legend Iago Aspas’ pass matched his brilliant vision to set-up fellow substitute Williot Swedberg to make it 3-2 on 76 minutes.

Pablo Duran so nearly equalised two minutes later after being sent clear by another wonderful bit of skill from Aspas, but home goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was able to recover after the initial shot squirmed under his body.

With the away side pushing for an equaliser, there were chances at both ends in a frenetic finale, but Los Blancos stood firm to claim a crucial three points.

Victory means defending champions Madrid head to Barcelona next Sunday knowing a fifth straight league win would leave them just a point behind their fierce rivals with three games remaining.

Meanwhile, Celta stay seventh as they continue to fight for a European place.

Mbappe was initially shown a yellow card for catching Antonio Blanco high on the shin with a late challenge, but that was upgraded to red after the video assistant referee (VAR) invited referee Cesar Soto Grado to watch the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

The incident occurred four minutes after Eduardo Camavinga gave Real Madrid the lead with a curling left-footed strike from just outside the penalty area.

Thibaut Courtois produced six saves to thwart Alaves, who were themselves reduced to 10 men when Manu Sanchez caught Vinicius Jr high on the leg in the 70th minute.

Vinicius and Jude Bellingham started on the bench, perhaps with a view to the 3-0 deficit they will look to overturn against Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti introduced his two stars as his side looked to kill off the hosts, but they mustered just one shot on target in the second half compared to Alaves’ five.

Victory keeps Los Blancos in touch with Barcelona, who beat strugglers Leganes 1-0 on Saturday.

Mbappe will miss Real’s home fixture against Athletic Bilbao next Sunday through suspension.

Real Madrid will travel to Barcelona on 11 May in a match that could determine the title race.

The France striker argues PSG owes him €55 million ($61m) in unpaid wages, and his lawyers claim they have asked the Paris court to start proceedings.

Legal expert Thomas Clay said Mbappé has been authorized to make a precautionary seizure of the money, which has been frozen from PSG’s bank accounts on Thursday. A legal hearing is scheduled for May 26, he added.

“This story has been going on for just over a year now. One year was the deadline we set for ourselves for trying to resolve this dispute as peacefully as possible,” Mbappé’s main lawyer, Delphine Verheyden, said.

“As the months went by, Kylian Mbappé still hasn’t been paid the missing 55 million euros. A decision has been taken, this time to go on the attack.”

Verheyden said they were also asking the French sports minister to intervene and to legally challenge a decision by the appeals commission of the French Football Federation, which ruled that Mbappé’s appeal against PSG was not receivable.

She said she will also ask UEFA to look into the matter, arguing that PSG is in breach of its salary obligations. Verheyden suggested that PSG, if found responsible, could lose the licence allowing the club to play in the Champions League.

PSG said in a statement it still wants to reach an “amicable” solution to the dispute, “despite the repeated signs of bad faith and the player’s total refusal of any mediation.”

The club added: “After hearing yet another fantastic story from a parallel universe today, PSG continues to fail to understand why Kylian Mbappé is not taking his case to the labour chamber, which is the only court competent to settle the dispute between him and his former club.

“All the procedures announced by Kylian Mbappé’s lawyers only serve to delay the resolution of the dispute by the labour chamber, before which PSG is ready to present all the facts, evidence and testimony proving the existence of an agreement, or better still by means of the transaction that PSG has been calling for over a year.”

Last October, the French league appeals commission upheld the decision ordering PSG to pay Mbappé the unpaid wages he wants. Mbappé claims the club owes him three months’ salary and the last third of a loyalty bonus.

He joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG.

PSG argued that when Mbappé was sidelined before the 2023-24 season — following his decision not to extend his contract — there was a verbal agreement with him opting to relinquish bonuses in order to return to the team.

Mbappé’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions and some fans booed him in his last home game at Parc des Princes. PSG felt let down by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new contract in 2022.

But Mbappé was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. When he signed that deal, he was paraded in front of fans holding up a jersey with 2025 on it. Mbappé was reportedly annoyed because the contract was until 2024 — with a player’s option for an extra season.

Mbappé stunned PSG in June 2023 by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappé to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.

His PSG career could have ended that summer amid a tense transfer standoff.

After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappé was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a €300m ($335m) move to Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal.

PSG left Mbappé out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks. Mbappé’s legal team said on Thursday it will start an action against PSG for harassment because of the way he was treated.

They will also start another legal procedure before an industrial tribunal, while Mbappé and his mother have filed lawsuits for the abuse they received online.

Juan Foyth opened the scoring for the hosts but two Mbappe strikes in six first-half minutes earned the points for Madrid.

It puts Los Blancos three points clear of previous leaders Barcelona, who visit third-placed Atletico Madrid on Sunday night.

Villarreal remain fifth in La Liga, five points off the Champions League qualification places after back-to-back league defeats.

They started the stronger, with top scorer Ayoze Perez twice denied by Thibaut Courtois in the opening seven minutes.

After Courtois tipped a low curling Perez effort behind, Villarreal scored from the resulting corner when captain Foyth slammed home amid a goalmouth scramble.

This sparked Madrid and Mbappe into life and they equalised 10 minutes later.

Mbappe played a through ball to Brahim Diaz and, when his shot was saved by Diego Conde, the Frenchman was on hand to score the rebound.

After netting, Mbappe ran straight back to the centre-circle without celebrating. He meant business and showed it again on 23 minutes.

Following a cutback from the byline, Mbappe was given too much space on the edge of the Villarreal box and used it to curl a shot unstoppably past Conde.

It moves Mbappe to 20 league goals this season, just one behind La Liga top scorer Robert Lewandowski.

Having endured a tough start to life in Madrid, Mbappe has firmly found his feet and will be essential to Real’s push for both La Liga and Champions League success.

He took centre stage here, with usual attacking partner Vinicius Junior starting on the bench following a below-par showing against Atletico in midweek.

Villarreal did push Madrid hard in a fixture which ended 4-4 last season and proved entertaining again here.

Courtois had to go full stretch shortly before half-time to keep out a long-range effort from Nicholas Pepe and again to deny Alex Baena after the break.

The French star opened the scoring after four minutes with a brilliant lob after a pinpoint route one ball from defender Marco Asensio.

Mbappe grabbed a second later in the first half with a clinical effort, showcasing sensational footwork in the box before smashing the ball past Ederson from close range.

He added a third in the second half, wrapping up his second hat-trick of the season with a low, bending effort to put Madrid in cruise control and all but booking their spot in the last 16.

Man City scored a consolation through Nico Gonzalez – his first goal for the club – who tapped into an empty net from close range after Omar Marmoush crashed a free-kick off the crossbar.

Fabio Silva’s close-range effort gave the visitors a surprise lead but Mbappe levelled from the penalty spot after Sandro Ramirez fouled Rodrygo.

Brahim Diaz slotted home from Lucas Vazquez’s pass to give Real the lead before an exquisite finish from Mbappe, who guided the ball into the net for his 12th league goal of the campaign, put Carlo Ancelotti’s side in complete control at the break.

Rodrygo slotted in Fran Garcia’s cutback in the 57th minute as Real’s dominance continued after the interval.

Las Palmas’ half-time substitute Benito Ramirez was then sent off after a video assistant review of his studs up lunge into the midriff of Vazquez upgraded the initial yellow card to a red.

The result means Real are top of the table, two points clear of Atletico Madrid, who lost against Leganes on Saturday.

Real had three goals ruled out for offside, including what would have been a hat-trick goal for Mbappe while Enland midfielder Jude Bellingham missed a host of chances.

Attention now turns to Wednesday when Real host Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League.

Messi’s move to Paris on a free transfer in August 2021 completed a sparkling frontline with Mbappe and Neymar, but the much-celebrated trio struggled to gel together.

Neymar, now on the books with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal, described in an interview with Brazil great Romario how the dynamic changed in the dressing room following Messi’s arrival from Barcelona.

When asked by Romario if Mbappe is “annoying,” Neymar said: “No, he is not. I have my things with him, we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived.

“I used to call him golden boy. I always played with him; I said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped, talked to him, he came to my place, we had dinner together.

“We had some good years of partnership, but after Messi came he was a little jealous.

“He didn’t want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behaviour.”

Assembling one of the most expensive and talented forward lines ever seen did not lead to the desired success for PSG, who failed to claim their maiden UEFA Champions League title.

Mbappe departed PSG last summer to complete a long-touted move to Real Madrid, while Messi is now in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami.

“It is good to have egos, but you have to know that you don’t play alone,” Neymar said.

“There needs to be another guy by your side. [Big] egos were almost everywhere, it can’t work. If nobody runs and nobody helps, it is impossible to win anything.”

Neymar, 32, has only featured twice for Al Hilal in an injury-plagued 2024/25 season.

The Brazilian’s contract expires at the end of the season and he has been linked with a return to Brazil, which he did not rule out, and a move to MLS, with Chicago Fire among the clubs linked.

Neymar won five Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de France and two Coupe de la Ligue during a six-year spell in Paris, but a runners-up finish in 2019/20 was as close as he got to Champions League glory with the French side.

He joined Al Hilal in the summer of 2023, but an ACL injury in October that year ended his season and he is yet to return to full fitness, having suffered further injuries since recovering.

The Spanish giants have struggled in Europe this year, having lost three of their five games before Tuesday’s match in Italy.

Consequently they needed a victory to improve their chances of progressing to the knockout stage, which they got that with this confidence-boosting display.

France international Mbappe got the ball rolling with a goal in the 10th minute, breaking clear of his marker before finishing smartly.

It was his 12th goal since joining Real in the summer and he should have had a second later in the first half when he charged through the middle, but his shot from outside the box was saved.

However, the home side were dealt a blow nine minutes before half time when Mbappe appeared to suffer an injury and, although he was able to walk off the pitch, he was replaced by Rodrygo.

Atalanta then equalised on the stroke of half time when Charles De Ketelaere scored a penalty after Sead Kolasinac went down inside the box.

Real battled back after the break as Vinicius Jr found the bottom corner with a neat finish on his return from a hamstring injury before Bellingham fired home for his first goal in the Champions League this season.

Ademola Lookman gave Atalanta hope with his 11th goal of the season, whipping a shot in at the near post, but Real held off late pressure to take three crucial points.

The win moved Real up to 18th in the 36-team league and three points off the top eight, who qualify automatically for the knockout stage.

Atalanta, meanwhile, are ninth on 11 points.

The global players’ union announced its men’s and women’s teams on Monday, based exclusively on votes from over 28,000 players across 70 countries.

Argentina icon Messi was excluded for the first time in 17 years despite landing the MLS MVP award after helping Inter Miami set a new single-season points record of 74, while his great rival Cristiano Ronaldo was also left out despite making the list of nominees.

Instead, the team was dominated by players from Real Madrid – who won LaLiga and the Champions League last term – and Premier League champions Manchester City.

Bellingham received the most votes from fellow professionals with 11,176, having registered 23 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Madrid in 2023-24.

The voting period took into account performances between August 20, 2023 and July 14, 2024, the date on which Spain beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final.

Fellow Three Lions star Kane failed to make the team despite amassing more goal involvements (56, 44 goals, 12 assists) than any other player from Europe’s top five leagues last season, with Bellingham’s Madrid team-mates Mbappe and Vinicius flanking City’s Erling Haaland in attack.

Toni Kroos, Antonio Rudiger and Dani Carvajal were also selected, with the latter having become the oldest Madrid player to score in a Champions League final versus Borussia Dortmund in June (aged 32 years, 142 days).

Carvajal did not finish on the losing side in a single match in LaLiga last season, while he also shone for Spain in their record-extending fourth European Championship triumph.

Four City players were named in the team, with Haaland joined by Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson. Rodri played 34 Premier League games last season and, like Carvajal in LaLiga, did not experience defeat. City won 27 and drew seven of their matches with the Spaniard in the lineup, losing three of four when he did not feature.

The lone player from outside City or Madrid to make the XI was Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, with Mohamed Salah missing out despite amassing 38 goal contributions in all competitions for the Reds last term (25 goals, 13 assists).

The women’s team, meanwhile, featured five England players, with Chelsea’s Lucy Bronze equalling Wendie Renard’s record with her seventh inclusion.

Mary Earps, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh and Lauren James are also included after a record-breaking 7,000 women’s players cast their votes.

Spain trio Olga Carmona, Alexia Putellas and Aitana Bonmati were also voted in, the latter receiving the most votes of any women’s player in the year she scooped her second Ballon d’Or.

The frontline, meanwhile, was comprised of Real Madrid and Colombia star Linda Caicedo, as well as Orlando Pride duo Barbra Banda and Marta, the latter making her first appearance in the XI since 2021.

Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen is perhaps the most notable absentee after the Norwegian registered at least 16 more goal involvements in Europe’s top five leagues than any other player last term (21 goals, 19 assists).  Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw, the only player to match her 21 strikes across those leagues, also missed the cut.

Berenguer handed the hosts the lead just after the break when a moment of quality by Inaki Williams saw a threatening cross cut out Real Madrid’s backline, with Berenguer stabbing home Thibault Courtois’ block.

Real Madrid were handed a way back into the game in the 67th minute when Julen Agirrezabala clattered into Antonio Rudiger in the box when clearing a Rodrygo free-kick. It was Kylian Mbappe who would go on to take but in a moment of redemption for the Athletic Club goalkeeper, Agirrezabala saved with a dive to his left.

Real Madrid found an equaliser as Jude Bellingham looked to have rescued a point for the away side when he was able to tuck home a parried Mbappe effort on goal.

However, shortly after, a costly mistake would see Real Madrid drop all three points for the second time this season as Federico Valverde was dispossessed by substitute Gorka Guruzeta, who slotted past Courtois in the 80th minute.

Next, Athletic Club have another tough test against Villarreal on Sunday, December 8, before a trip to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League. Whilst Real Madrid are on the road again as he travel to face Girona at the weekend, before a trip to Italy in the UEFA Champions League to take on Atalanta.

Jude Bellingham gave the 36-time La Liga champions the lead within 30 minutes as Antonio Rudiger was brought down in the box by Getafe’s Allan Nyom, under the nose of the referee.

Despite some debate about the penalty taker with Kylian Mbappe, it was Bellingham who stepped up with a hop, skip and jump to slot calmly down the middle and send the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Mbappe didn’t have to wait long for a goal of his own as eight minutes later, Bellingham threaded through an inch-perfect ball for Mbappe, whose composed finish from the outside of the box went in off the post to secure his eighth La Liga goal of the season.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were denied a second penalty when Mbappe’s shot hit a Getafe player’s hand, with VAR intervening to overturn the decision, whilst the Frenchman was unable to double his tally with a handful of missed opportunities.

Next up, Real Madrid face Athletic Club on Wednesday before a trip to Girona on Saturday in La Liga. Meanwhile, Getafe are in Copa de Rey action midweek against fourth-tier side Orihuela before a battle with fellow strugglers Espanyol.

Verdict: False. The viral photo is doctored. The original picture was first published on Kylian Mbappe’s Instagram account. It did not include Nadia Buhari.

Full Text

Social media has been buzzing with reactions after a viral photo surfaced featuring Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé.

The image, widely circulated on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), claims the two spent time together in New York.

Accounts on X, such as the_marcoli_boy and TwoTerty_, have shared the photo, sparking significant engagement.

Users and pages like Wahid Tunepost, Attractive Mustapha, and Nuse Li have also posted the image on Facebook. For example, Wahid Tunepost captioned,

“Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari is having fun with Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé in New York.”

The viral post has amassed over a million views across various accounts. Given the widespread attention, DUBAWA decided to investigate its authenticity.

Verification

We conducted a Yandex Image search to trace the photo’s origin. The investigation revealed that the image was originally sourced from Kylian Mbappé’s Instagram account, posted on Oct. 9, 2023.

We discovered that the exact posture in the original photo was also the same picture in the viral photo.

The image was taken at Clairefontaine – Centre National Du Football, in France.

This organisation specialises in training French football players; thus, the claim that the photo was taken in New York is false.

The original photo’s background differs significantly from the viral image. It has a green grass background, whereas the viral version features a tarred road.

Additionally, a yellow object appears in the viral image, which is absent from the original. Similar photos with varying poses were also uncovered, but none included Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari.

Further analysis showed that the attached image of Mbappé had been cropped from its original version.

DUBAWA used Fotoforensics to examine whether the image had been manipulated.

Fotoforensics analysis further revealed signs of manipulation, with the JPEG% analysis showing repetitive numerical patterns, a clear red flag that the image was likely edited multiple times.

Upon closer inspection, the image displays significant areas of white, indicating extensive edits. These edits include alterations to Kylian Mbappé, Nadia Buari, the dogs, and the watermark beneath the image. The alterations confirm that the photo does not authentically represent the two individuals together.

Conclusion

DUBAWA’s investigation confirms that the viral photo of Kylian Mbappé and Nadia Buari is not authentic.

The original image, sourced from Mbappé’s Instagram account, was significantly altered.

Key differences include changes to the background, adding a yellow object, and including Nadia Buari; all these were absent in the original photo.

Further analysis with Fotoforensics revealed multiple signs of manipulation, including repetitive numerical patterns in the JPEG% and extensive white areas indicative of heavy editing. These findings unequivocally demonstrate that the image has been doctored.

Source: www.ghana.dubawa.org

Jude Bellingham scored his second league goal in as many games in a comfortable victory ahead of their Champions League match with Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with his seventh league goal of the season on the stroke of half-time after Vinicius Junior rifled a low ball across the box.

Federico Valverde doubled the lead in the second half with a powerful strike from a free-kick, beating goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic at his near post.

Bellingham netted in the 85th minute after he reacted first to nod in Brahim Diaz’s deflected effort off the crossbar.

Frenchman Mbappe thought he had opened the scoring earlier with a powerful finish from Vinicius Junior’s pass, but the offside flag was quickly raised.

Teenager Arda Guler was handed a rare start and he forced Dmitrovic into a fine save from a tight angle midway through the first half.

Mbappe missed a huge opportunity to net his second of the night in the 83rd minute as his rushed strike could only sting the palms of the keeper.

Leganes, who are yet to register a victory over Real, were unable to threaten the returning Thibaut Courtois’ goal and did not manage a shot on target.

Youngster Raul Asencio started in the heart of the defence after Eder Militao injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) with Valverde playing 90 minutes at right-back as manager Carlo Ancelotti looked to combat Real’s injury woes.

Ancelotti’s side jumped above rivals Atletico Madrid into second and sit four points behind Barcelona having played a game less.

The 25-year-old France forward, who joined Real on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain in July, has struggled for form since arriving at the Bernabeu.

Mbappe has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the La Liga club, but has only netted once in his past five games.

Real, who won the Champions League and La Liga last season, were beaten 4-0 by rivals Barcelona last month and trail the Catalans by nine points in the league.

“Mbappe is down like everyone else, but motivated to get through this moment,” Real boss Ancelotti told a news conference.

“The problem he’s having is everyone’s problem. You could point at Vinicius [Junior], Rodrygo or [Jude] Bellingham. It is a difficult moment for everyone.”

Ancelotti said Mbappe was “training well” and was “convinced” his form will improve if the player remained upbeat.

“We haven’t hit our stride yet. You can’t let your head drop, you have to hold it high,” said Ancelotti.

The Italian added that he had “not spoken” to Mbappe about France manager Didier Deschamps’ decision to leave him out of Les Bleus’ forthcoming Nations League double-header.

“It’s a matter for the national team coach and I have no right to judge his decisions. He made the decision and we have to accept it,” Ancelotti explained.

Real host Osasuna in La Liga on Saturday at 13:00 GMT.

The Real Madrid forward was not selected for upcoming matches against Israel and Italy.

Mbappe, 25, was left out of France’s squad in October for two Nations League matches as a precaution given he had just returned from injury and had been expected to return for selection this month.

“I’ve had discussions with him, it is a decision that I took for this block of matches only,” Deschamps said at a news conference on Thursday. “Kylian wanted to come.”

The forward, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer last summer from Paris St-Germain, has struggled for form since moving to the Bernabeu.

Mbappe has scored eight goals in 15 appearances for the La Liga club but has only netted once in his past five games.

Real, who won both the Champions League and La Liga last season, were beaten 4-0 by rivals Barcelona last month and trail the Catalans by nine points in the league.

Mbappe, a World Cup winner in 2018, has scored 48 goals in 86 appearances for France.

France star Mbappe, who joined Real after his Paris St-Germain contract ended in July, has eight goals in 14 appearances for his new club but has scored just once in his past five games.

The 25-year-old’s favoured position is on the left wing but manager Carlo Ancelotti has kept Brazil international Vinicius in that position, forcing Mbappe to play centrally.

“The problem, in my opinion, is that [Mbappe] is not a central striker, even with the national team, every time he plays as a number nine he doesn’t feel right, because that’s not his position,” former France striker Benzema said on Spanish television show El Chiringuito.

“On the left, he’s got a guy who’s at the same level as him, Vinicius, so there is a problem, you can’t play Vinicius as a number nine or on the right, because when he plays on the left he makes the difference in every game.

“Mbappe isn’t a real number nine. People ask a lot of him and he’s under a lot of pressure, this isn’t Paris St-Germain.”

Benzema is Real’s second-highest scorer of all time, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Frenchman won the Ballon d’Or when at the club in 2022 before signing for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad last year.

The 36-year-old, winner of five Champions Leagues and four La Liga titles during 14 seasons at the Bernabeu, warned Mbappe that “if you go two or three games without a goal, you’re going to have a lot of problems”.

In addition to scoring just once in the past five games, Mbappe failed to make an impact as Real’s 42-game unbeaten run in La Liga was ended by a painful 4-0 home defeat by rivals Barcelona.

Team-mate Vinicius came second to Manchester City midfielder Rodri in the voting for the men’s Ballon d’Or last month – awarded to the best footballer of the year.

On his advice to Real’s present number nine, Benzema said: “Don’t give up, because I don’t think he’s going to push Vinicius to move. He’s the best player in the world at the moment.

“Mbappe needs to get it into his head that today he’s a number nine, and forget about the left flank for a while.”

England captain Kane, who joined Bayern Munich from Tottenham last summer, scored 44 goals in 45 competitive games in his first season with the German club.

Mbappe netted 44 goals in 48 appearances in his final season with Paris St-Germain.

The France forward was not at the ceremony at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet along with the rest of his Real Madrid representatives.

According to AFP and several Spanish news outlets, Real Madrid cancelled plans to attend after hearing that Vinicius Junior would not win the men’s award.

The European champions told AFP that its delegation would not go “where it is not respected” after learning Vinicius, favourite to win the award, would not be crowned the world’s best male player.

“Thank you to my club Bayern Munich, all my staff, and teammates, for helping me score all the goals I scored,” Kane said.

“It’s an honour to take this award from a club legend [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge]. It was a new chapter for me. Going to Germany, taking my family with me was a new experience, I didn’t know what to expect.

“To get off to the start I did, credit to my teammates. I went along for the ride and we had a good season.”

When ceremony co-host Didier Drogba asked Kane what area of his game he would like to improve, the England captain replied: “My speed. Although age might be catching up with me.”

Madrid looked a shadow of their usual selves before a touch of brilliance from Kylian Mbappe gave them a 20th-minute lead. The opener came after Williot Swedberg had missed two glorious chances for the hosts, with Thibaut Courtois saving his second.

However, Celta were rewarded for their efforts in the second half with youngster Swedberg taking his opportunity for an emotional equaliser.

Madrid looked shaken by the equaliser but were calmed by the presence of substitute Luka Modric. With his second touch of the ball Modric unleashed Junior to calmly beat the goalkeeper in what would be the winner.

Celta would give their visitors one last fright with substitute Anastasios Douvikas meeting a cross inside the box at the death but putting his effort wide.

Carlo Ancelotti has work to do if Madrid are going to maintain their unbeaten record at home to Borussia Dortmund in midweek and then Barcelona in El Clasico next weekend.

The France international, who joined the Spanish club in the summer after his contract with Paris St-Germain expired, scored in a 3-2 win against Deportivo Alaves on Tuesday before being substituted after 80 minutes.

Speaking after the game, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said: “He’s fine – a little overloaded. He asked me for the change to avoid problems.”

In an update on Wednesday, Madrid said that “following tests” the 25-year-old “has been diagnosed with an injury to the biceps femoris in his left leg” and “his progress will be monitored”.

Real Madrid are away in a league match at Atletico Madrid on Sunday and then play Lille in the Champions League and Villarreal in the Spanish top flight prior to the October international break.

Mbappe had scored six goals in seven games for the Bernabeu club before sustaining his injury.

Lucas Vazquez gave the La Liga champions the lead inside 57 seconds before Frenchman Mbappe found the net with a fine finish after being set up by Jude Bellingham.

Rodrygo added a third just after the restart, but Carlos Benavidez pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 85th minute.

Deportivo’s Kike Garcia then added a second a minute later to ensure a nervy finish, but Carlo Ancelotti’s side were able to hang on.

Mbappe’s strike means the 25-year-old now has seven goals in nine appearances this season for Real, including six in his past seven.

He and Bellingham had also combined in the 23rd minute but the forward had his strike into the bottom corner ruled out for offside.

Mbappe signed a five-year deal at Real Madrid in July after the expiry of his Paris St-Germain contract.

The Frenchman opened his La Liga account before the international break and coolly sent Alex Remiro the wrong way from the penalty spot late in the second half.

Vinicius Jr opened the scoring for Madrid in the 58th minute, also with a penalty, after former Manchester City left-back Sergio Gomez handled Arda Guler’s powerful hit.

Brazilian Vinicius made no mistake as he scored his second La Liga goal of the season.

Sociedad may have wondered how they had not taken the lead after hitting the woodwork three times – twice in the first half and once in the second.

Keeper Thibaut Courtois could only watch as Luka Susic’s powerful strike from the edge of the box rattled the crossbar in the 25th minute.

Madrid were saved by the woodwork again 10 minutes later. Dani Carvajal lost possession deep in his own half and Sheraldo Becker’s left-footed strike spun off the bar.

Croatian Susic perfectly opened up his body 20 seconds into the second half to slide a left-footed effort past Courtois, but he could not beat the base of the post.

England international Jude Bellingham remained on the sidelines after injuring his calf before the international break, although he has returned to training.

Madrid are unbeaten after five league matches but remain a point behind leaders Barcelona despite having played a game more.

The France forward ran on to Federico Valverde’s backheel before slotting the opener past Rui Silva.

He then sent Silva the wrong way with a penalty after the goalkeeper had brought down Vinicius Jr.

Mbappe had failed to score in his previous three La Liga fixtures, having netted on his debut for the club in the Uefa Super Cup against Atalanta.

The 25-year-old was a summer signing from Paris St-Germain, where he remains the all-time top scorer with 256 goals.

His first goal came from his 25th shot of the La Liga season – with the penalty coming from his 26th. That is more shots than anybody else in Europe’s top five leagues.

Real Betis had chances to score earlier on with Abde Ezzalzouli heading wide from close range and Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque forcing a save with his first touch from the bench.

Spanish champions Madrid had plenty of chances too though, with Mbappe failing with seven shots before his goal and Eder Militao and Valverde testing the goalkeeper.

Vinicius also hit the post with a deflected shot.

Madrid are unbeaten after four league games, although four points behind Barcelona. Betis have only picked up one point from their opening three matches.

The France captain scored on his debut for the club in Wednesday’s 2-0 Uefa Super Cup win over Atalanta.

But the summer signing from Paris St-Germain failed to get off the mark in domestic football.

Rodrygo curled home a fine opener from Vinicius Jr’s backheel to give Carlo Ancelotti’s side the lead.

But Vedat Muriqi equalised with a header from Dani Rodriguez’s cross.

Madrid defender Ferland Mendy was sent off deep into injury time for a lunge on Muriqi.

Mbappe, PSG’s record goalscorer and six-time Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner, had chances for Madrid. He flashed a shot just wide as well as forcing keeper Dominik Greif into a save with his legs.

This was the first time the 25-year-old World Cup winner had played a league game outside France after starting his career with Monaco.

Federico Valverde was also on target for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who lifted the trophy for a record-breaking sixth time.

Mbappe endured a quiet first half at Warsaw’s National Stadium, Isak Hien blocking his 15th-minute shot, while the woodwork denied both teams inside the opening 45 minutes.

Eder Militao deflected Marten de Roon’s cross against his own crossbar before Rodrygo struck the bar at the other end in first-half stoppage time.

Atalanta went close within two minutes of the restart as Thibaut Courtois wonderfully palmed away Mario Pasalic’s header.

But it was Madrid who broke the deadlock in the 59th minute as Vinicius Junior accelerated away from Berat Djimsiti, before squaring for Valverde to tap into an empty net.

Juan Musso did brilliantly to deny Vinicius and Jude Bellingham, but the Atalanta goalkeeper was powerless as Los Blancos doubled their lead nine minutes later, with Bellingham threading a neat through ball for Mbappe to lift into the roof of the net.

England midfielder Bellingham, 21, played in an advanced role for the Spanish side in his debut season, scoring 23 goals in 42 games as they won La Liga and the Champions League.

France striker Mbappe, 25, joined Real this summer on a free transfer from Paris St-Germain.

Ancelotti denied Bellingham would play in a deeper role to accommodate Mbappe, saying: “Nothing changes for him. Nothing changes.

“The first season, he surprised a lot, because he showed fantastic quality, a really mature guy. The next season will not be different.

“He is going to be one of the best players that we have, supporting a lot the team with his quality.”

The Italian also backed Bellingham after criticism of his performances at Euro 2024, where England reached the final.

“This is an opinion but Bellingham played really well at the Euros,” he added.

“England played really well, they reached the final and were close to winning it. I don’t know how the players are tired for the game.

“The most important players are used to playing every three days, they manage that really well and arrive at the end of the season without any problems.”

Ancelotti has also urged Chelsea’s owners to be more patient with managers having sacked Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino since the change of ownership.

The former Blues manager will face his compatriot Enzo Maresca as both clubs finish their US tours at the Bank of America stadium in Charlotte on Tuesday night.

He added: “They invested a lot. They have a good squad, good players, young. They have a young manager. They need to be a little bit patient, the owners, to take experience, to grow. But the signings that they have [made] are really good.”

Before explaining Madrid don’t need to re-sign exiled Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who spent last season on loan at Santiago Bernabeu, Ancelotti said: “We love him. We love him but in that position, we are covered.”

Interconnected Ventures, founded by Mbappe, has bought a majority stake in the French club through its investment arm, Coalition Capital.

France international Mbappe, 25, has reportedly invested around 15m euros (£12.6m) of his own money via the investment fund.

Coalition Capital replace previous majority shareholders, American investment fund Oaktree.

Pierre-Antoine Capton, current president of the club’s supervisory board, remains a minority shareholder.

“It is an incredible opportunity for Stade Malherbe Caen to be able to count on Coalition Capital for its development. Its values, commitments and extraordinary vision of sport are unique assets for this project,” Capton said.

Caen finished sixth last season and start their Ligue 2 campaign on 17 August against Paris FC. It will come a day before striker Mbappe could make his La Liga debut for Real Madrid against Real Mallorca after he moved on a free transfer from PSG this summer.

Caen were relegated from Ligue 1 in 2019.

A club statement said: “This transaction marks a significant step in the club’s strategic development and reinforces its natural ambition to remain among the historic places in French football.”

Sources told ESPN the Ligue 1 champions are yet to pay Mbappé €80 million ($86m) for a bonus plus two months in 2024 wages.

Mbappé, 25, left PSG after his contract expired in June and joined Real Madrid as a free agent on a five-year contract.

When asked if Mbappé is ready to take PSG to court, Lamari told Le Parisien as reported in Diario AS: “If we have no other choice, yes, of course. Now, I really hope that the contract we signed two years ago is respected.

“Let’s stop saying that Kylian said or didn’t say, he did this or didn’t do that … In reality, no one can say what happened, neither me nor PSG’s representatives because for two years Kylian and the [club] president [Nasser Al-Khelaifi] always met alone, apart from once.

“And all that has not stopped Kylian from playing since the announcement [made by Mbappé to PSG of his departure] was made in February …”

Sources told ESPN that PSG won’t pay Mbappé what he is owed in an effort to recoup the money for his departure, which the sources said Mbappé agreed to with PSG back in August.

Lamari compared her son’s situation with PSG to a divorce.

“It is now in the hands of Kylian’s representatives,” she said. “But I trust PSG to get things back to normal very quickly. We just received a letter … Decisions will be made.

“Sometimes, when you separate, you have to decide who gets the TV, who gets the furniture or the car … That’s where we are. I hope that all this does not tarnish everything we have been through, that we do not leave it like this.

“As in a couple, once again, everything is never rosy, there are ups and downs. But in six months, things will be better.”

Mbappé, who was unveiled at Madrid this week, came close to joining the Spanish giants two years ago but had a late change of heart and signed a new contract with PSG until June 2024, a decision he does not regret.

“When you were born in Paris and grew up in Bondy, playing in the Parc des Princes is quite an event,” Lamari said.

“Kylian has never lied. He always told the [PSG] president that one day he would go to Real Madrid. Of course, when that happens, it’s complicated. But apart from Madrid, I would never have left Paris.

“It hasn’t been easy, but there are no regrets, just great emotions. It has been very, very difficult for Kylian, that’s clear.”

Mbappé is PSG’s all-time top scorer with 255 goals.

The France captain won six Ligue 1 titles in his seven seasons at the club. Lamari, meanwhile, said that her son, who described his Euro 2024 campaign as a “failure” having scored just once in five appearances, has room for improvement.

“Kylian can and must improve,” she said.

The French captain and striker was introduced to 80,000 fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday.

After signing a five-year deal with the La Liga giants, the 24-year-old expressed his excitement, stating he has fulfilled his dream by joining the 15-time Champions League winners.

“I want to thank President Florentino and everyone who made this possible, as well as my family, who are very happy. I see my mother crying…,” Mbappe said.

“It is an incredible, unbelievable day. Since I was a child, I dreamed of playing here, and this means a lot. I want to thank all the Madrid fans for the love they’ve given me over the years.

“Now, I hope to live up to the level of this club, the best in the world. I will give my life for this club and its crest,” he added. “To the children, I want to say: with passion, you can achieve your dreams, and one day, you might be here too.”

Mbappe concluded, “I’m very excited, and it means a lot to me to be here. I’m very happy to be part of the club of my dreams and the greatest club in the history of football.”

Mbappe, who joined Real Madrid as a free agent from PSG, will wear the number 9 jersey, previously worn by his French national teammate, Karim Benzema.

The French international’s presentation occurred at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, July 16, in front of 80,000 fans.

Mbappe joined Madrid as a free agent after his contract with Paris Saint-Germain expired at the end of the 2023/24 season.

“For years I’ve dreamed of playing for Real Madrid and today my dream has come true,” said Mbappe. “I’m a happy boy. I’m going to give my life for this club.”

The French captain underwent a medical examination early on Tuesday before his unveiling, passing the tests and then heading to the Bernabeu offices to sign his official contract.

Mbappe signed a five-year deal and was handed the No. 9 shirt by club president Florentino Perez.

Former Real Madrid players Zinedine Zidane, Santiago Solari, and Raul Gonzalez attended the unveiling at the Bernabeu.

France had struggled to live up to their tag as pre-tournament favourites in Germany but still ground their way through to the last four, only to come unstuck in Munich.

Randal Kolo Muani gave them an early lead with Les Bleus’ first non-penalty goal (excluding own goals) of the tournament, but Lamine Yamal and Dani Olmo netted – the former becoming the youngest goalscorer in World Cup or Euros history – in a quickfire turnaround.

France were unable to force an equaliser in the second half as they lost a major tournament semi-final for the first time since Euro 1996, with Mbappe wasting one good opportunity late on.

Mbappe ended the tournament with no non-penalty goals from 23 such shots. Since records began in 1980, only Deco in 2004 (24) has ever had more non-penalty shots without netting at a single edition of the European Championships.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the defeat, Mbappe said: “They played a better game than us. We conceded two goals quickly and in the second half we had chances to come back but we didn’t take them.

“The competition was a failure. I wanted us to be European champions and we’re not. That’s football.”

Having suffered a broken nose during France’s Group D opener against Austria last month, Mbappe was asked whether his condition had impacted his form.

The forward – who will link up with his new Real Madrid team-mates in the coming weeks – refused to blame the injury for his lack of goals, saying: “We have to move on.

“It’s been a long year, I’m going to go on vacation to rest, it’s going to do me a lot of good. We mustn’t complicate football too much.

“You’re good or you’re not good. I wasn’t good and we’re going home, it’s simple. I have to rest. After that, I’m leaving for a new life.”

Mbappe played the semi-final without the protective mask he wore for France’s last three games, which Didier Deschamps previously said was impacting his vision.

Asked about the decision to abandon the mask, Mbappe said: “We made the choice before the match.

“I was fed up with the mask. I asked the doctor if I could play without it, and he told me to do what I want.”

Frenchman Mbappe, 25, signed for Real Madrid this summer – a club where Ronaldo won four successive Champions League titles.

The two will go head-to-head in Hamburg on Friday (kick-off 20:00 BST) and Mbappe describes it as “a pleasure” to face Portugal’s five-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“It’s the admiration I’ve always had for Cristiano, for the player. Over time, I’ve had the chance to get to know him and talk to him many times. We’re still in touch,” said Mbappe.

“He’s always trying to give me advice and keep up to date with what’s going on. Playing against him is an honour for everything he’s done in football.

“No matter what happened before or what happens after, he’ll always be a legend of the game. But of course we hope to win and reach the semi-finals.”

Ronaldo, 39, said this week it would be his last Euros so this showdown with Mbappe is being described as a “handover” between two great players.

But Mbappe says the Portugal legend is “unique” and he will follow his own path when he begins his stint with Madrid.

“There will only be one [Ronaldo] I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to start living my dream as a player in Madrid,” he added.

“I hope I’ll write a great story there, but I’m certainly not going there to write the rest of Cristiano’s story. What he did in Madrid is unique.

“You have to appreciate what he has been, what he is. I’ve never been an envious person, so I just want to admire the greatness of the player.

“He left his mark on the history of football. He inspired generations. He has scored many goals and won many titles. So his CV speaks for itself.”

‘It’s not about Mbappe v Ronaldo’

Manchester City and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva played with Mbappe at Monaco and said he always “stood out from the crowd”.

“Kylian is a wonderful player and started with us at AS Monaco when he was 16. I remember after his first week we would say ‘who’s this kid?'” added Silva.

“I am so delighted for him that he was able to have a wonderful career. I wish him the best but not [against us] obviously. I want us to qualify.”

But Silva would not be drawn on comparisons between Mbappe and Ronaldo.

“It’s not about Kylian and Cristiano – it’s about Portugal and France. They are both two unbelievable players,” said Silva.

“Cristiano is one of the best to ever play the game. Kylian is still going through the beginning or middle of his career. But it’s not about them. As Portugal, we want to go through and qualify for the semi-finals.”

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez has faced criticism for his team selection and their performance so far in the tournament.

They needed extra time and a penalty shootout to overcome Slovenia in their last-16 tie on Monday.

“Criticism is part of the job description. Criticism shows how passionate people are about the national team and I accept that,” said Martinez.

“I believe we have very important players and a very competitive dressing room. I see them every day in training so can make decisions.

“In the qualifying campaign, we won 10 matches and I was criticised. I’m not focused on myself. My job is to help our players perform as best we can and that’s what I promise all fans.”

The 25-year-old striker broke his nose in a collision during his side’s 1-0 win against Austria in their opening game of the tournament.

He missed the goalless draw with the Netherlands but returned and scored as France drew 1-1 with Poland.

Mbappe wore a protective mask in that game but said he found it uncomfortable.

“I didn’t think it would be, but playing with a mask is absolutely horrible,” Mbappe said before the Belgium game in Dusseldorf.

“I have changed [the mask] because every time there was something that wasn’t right.

“It is really difficult. It limits your vision and the sweat gets blocked up so you have to take it off to let it run away.

“As soon as I can take it off I will do, but I don’t have a choice. That is how my tournament is going to be. I can only play like that.

“It is really annoying, but I have to just say thanks to the mask.”

Mbappe’s goal against Poland was a penalty, meaning France are yet to score from open play at the tournament.

“It’s not the group matches anymore,” boss Didier Deschamps said. “It’s a new competition within the competition.

“You have to be efficient. To win matches, you have to score. That’s not done by snapping your fingers, but you need to move the cursor [closer to goal].”

These two sides met in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, with France winning 1-0 on their way to lifting the trophy.

Like Les Bleus, Belgium finished second in their group, drawing 0-0 with Ukraine to ensure progression.

Both sides are yet to click into gear, but Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco believes the chances they are creating means their luck will turn.

“The quality and quantity of chances we made in the first three games was unbelievable,” he said.

“It is unbelievable that we scored only two goals in three games, and France too, but this is football.”

Belgium were booed after the goalless draw with Ukraine, but midfielder Orel Mangala believes the fans will be behind them on Monday.

“I believe that has been cleared up,” he said.

“I can understand that [reaction]. We we were all frustrated. Now we are facing a new match and I hope that all the fans stand with us and we’ll play with a lot of imagination.”