Real Madrid's French forward Kylian Mbappe kicks the ball during the Spanish league football match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at the Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria on April 13, 2025. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP)
The French superstar was taken to hospital on Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released.
Mbappe is improving "bit by bit" a club source told AFP, but he did not fly with his team-mates for Sunday's match against Mexican side Pachuca.
Real coach Xabi Alonso addressed the striker's condition during his pre-match press conference.
"He's doing better, he's back from the hospital and is recovering. We're optimistic about having him against Salzburg," said Alonso.
Madrid face Salzburg in the final game of Group H on Thursday in Philadelphia.
The 26-year-old missed the opening game with the same illness as Madrid were held 1-1 by Al-Hilal in Xabi Alonso's debut as coach.
Gonzalo Garcia, a 21-year-old member of the Madrid B team, started in Mbappe's place and scored the opening goal for Real Madrid against their Saudi Arabian opponents. Alonso indicated that Gonzalo would again deputise for the Frenchman.
"Gonzalo can do what he did the other day. He had three chances and one goal. Looking ahead, we'll see what happens. Having players with that sense of smell is very important. He did very well," he said.
Mbappe won the European Golden Shoe in his first season at Real Madrid, scoring 43 goals in all competitions and 31 in La Liga, but Los Blancos did not win a major trophy.
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