After several weeks of absence, Kylian Mbappé made his big return to the pitch on Tuesday evening at the Club World Cup , during Real Madrid 's narrow 1-0 victory over Juventus. Having been out since the start of the tournament due to a muscle injury to his left thigh and then a viral illness, the French striker had been forced to follow the latest matches from the stands, fueling the frustration of fans and the impatience of observers. His return was particularly anticipated, especially as recent images of training showed a sharp player, visibly in great shape, displaying a broad smile and a newfound determination. This highly publicized comeback was supposed to mark the start of the final stretch of the season for a Real Madrid who are counting on him to make the difference in the big matches.
Coming into the game in the second half under Xabi Alonso, Mbappé didn't fully live up to expectations. While he attempted to energize Madrid's play with some acceleration and initiative, his influence remained limited against a well-organized Juventus side. Some technical inaccuracies, a clear lack of rhythm, and a certain restraint in duels left his performance with a sense of incompleteness. Some fans, as well as a portion of the Spanish press, were quick to point out that this return, while symbolically powerful, lacked sporting edge. " So happy to be back with the team after this difficult period. Thank you to all the Miami fans for their support, I felt so loved here. See you soon in New York. ¡HalaMadrid! " Mbappé said on social media after the match. It remains to be seen whether this gentle return is simply a logical step towards a surge in strength in the coming days.
Noticeable gestures of humor
Some fans also pointed out several gestures of annoyance from Mbappé during the match, particularly after a few poorly passed balls or aborted moves. Sequences where the striker appeared to be withdrawn, walking on the pitch while the game was still in progress, were also highlighted on social media. These attitudes raise questions about his current state of mind, even if they can also be explained by a lack of rhythm linked to his return from injury. Asked about the physical form of his French star, Xabi Alonso did not want to point to individual cases: " I'm not yet on to the next match, I'm sticking to today, where we improved. It's a new stage, and we saw what we did well. I'm happy for everyone. Mbappé will be there day after day. I talk to him every day to find out how he feels. We have three days to see how he will be ." Despite everything, Kylian Mbappé still touched about twenty balls and completed almost all of his passes in about twenty minutes. Unfortunately, the French captain did not attempt a single shot.
This lackluster performance contrasts sharply with that of Gonzalo Garcia, a true revelation of this Club World Cup. The young striker trained at La Fábrica is stringing together top-level performances and is increasingly establishing himself as a serious contender for a starting spot at the forefront of Madrid's attack. Sharp, mobile, and above all, clinical in front of goal, Garcia once again scored against Juventus, confirming all the good things Xabi Alonso thinks of him. At only 21 years old, he embodies the pure number 9 that Real Madrid have been seeking for several seasons, and his rise to prominence comes at a time when Mbappé is still looking to rediscover his best: " I'm very happy for him and for the team. We encourage him to continue like this. He's performing very well, scoring goals, and giving everything he can. He's making the most of his playing time. I didn't expect three goals in four games." But he works well, wears down the central defenders, is tenacious in pressing… all of that helps a lot. And if he scores those goals, so much the better. I trusted him, and he deserves it ." The king is back, but the court is no longer quite the same.
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