The Real Madrid forward is set to miss his second game at the football tournament in the US after being hospitalised due to an illness.
The FIFA Club World Cup has entered its second week, and one of the tournament’s star attractions, Kylian Mbappe, has yet to step on the football field.
The Real Madrid forward was first ruled out when he missed his side’s opening match against Al Hilal on Wednesday, but his exclusion from the match-day squad was extended when Real coach Xabi Alonso confirmed Mbappe would also miss their second game against Pachuca on Sunday.
Here’s what to know about the Mbappe situation:
Why did Mbappe go to the hospital before the Club World Cup?
Mbappe received treatment in Florida, United States, after suffering from a high fever and an illness later diagnosed as gastroenteritis.
“Our player Kylian Mbappe is suffering from an acute case of gastroenteritis and has been admitted to hospital in order to undergo a series of tests and follow the appropriate course of treatment,” Real Madrid said in a statement on Thursday.
The statement did not indicate when Mbappe was admitted, but another update from the club, seven hours later, confirmed that he had been discharged after receiving treatment and returned to Real Madrid’s training ground.
“Mbappe will continue with specific medical treatment and will gradually return to team activity,” the club said.
What is gastroenteritis, and how did Mbappe get it?
Gastroenteritis – also known as the stomach flu or tummy bug – is a common illness that causes diarrhoea, fever and vomiting.
“Gastroenteritis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug and affects people of all ages,” according to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS).
