Why Is Kylian Mbappe Not Playing Tonight for Real Madrid vs Barcelona?

Photo By Angel Perez Meca/Europa Press via Getty Images

Why Is Kylian Mbappe Not Playing Tonight for Real Madrid vs Barcelona?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Emmanuel Mendez | Last updated May 10, 2026 2:50 PM ET

Real Madrid has a very thin squad for El Clásico against FC Barcelona tonight. Real Madrid needs to win the match to avoid Barcelona from crowning themselves league champions again.

Real Madrid has multiple injuries in the squad ahead of the match tonight, but they were hopeful to have Kylian Mbappe back to full fitness.

Mbappe missed the last game against Espanyol in the league. His last appearance for Real Madrid was against Real Betis away from home.

Mbappe was injured for a week but returned to training earlier this week. Mbappe initially trained on his own and then started training with the rest of the team.

Kylian Mbappé and Thiago Pitarch of Real Madrid are training at Ciudad Real Madrid on May 09, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty ImagesPhoto by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images

Despite training with the team this week, Mbappe was not included in the Real Madrid squad list against Barcelona. Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia, Brahim Diaz, and Franco Mastantuono are the only attackers available for Real Madrid.

✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
@FCBarcelona_es pic.twitter.com/p73EWA2lft
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 10, 2026

Kylian Mbappe Injury Update

Kylian Mbappe is not 100% fit for the match tonight against FC Barcelona after not recovering from his problems in the semitendinosus of his left leg.

Mbappe was part of the training session, but the French star withdrew from the final part of the session.

Mbappe is not part of the bench, and Franco Mastantuono is the only attacking option on the bench. Mbappe could be back for the next league game against Real Oviedo on Thursday.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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