FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Will Kylian Mbappé start for Real Madrid against Juventus?
Kylian Mbappé, the 26-year-old French superstar, has been the tournament's biggest talking point—not for his dazzling goals, but for his unexpected absence. The Real Madrid striker missed all three of Real Madrid's group stage matches against Al Hilal, Pachuca, and RB Salzburg due to a nasty bout of gastroenteritis that landed him in the hospital. Fans were gutted to miss out on seeing the European Golden Shoe winner, who bagged an astonishing 43 goals in his first season with Los Blancos, light up the pitch.
Thankfully, there's good news. In a press conference on June 30, 2025, Real Madrid's head coach, Xabi Alonso, shared an optimistic update. 'Kylian's back in good spirits. We're chatting daily, and he's looking sharp in training. We'll make the final call tomorrow morning,' Alonso said with a grin, hinting that Mbappé has a 'strong chance' of playing against Juventus. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, though, remains a mystery.
Mbappé's been putting in the work at training, showing the same fire that's made him a global icon. After a rocky start at Real Madrid, where he and Vinicius Jr. struggled to gel, the French captain is itching to make his Club World Cup debut—a stage he's never graced during his days at PSG or Monaco. Real Madrid vs. Juventus: A Clash of Titans
This Round of 16 matchup is pure football magic. Real Madrid, who cruised through Group H with seven points, are riding high after a commanding 3-0 win over RB Salzburg. Juventus, despite a rough 5-2 defeat to Manchester City in the group stage, clinched their knockout spot and will bank on rising star Kenan Yıldız to deliver some flair.
Xabi Alonso, in his debut season as Real Madrid's manager, has been tinkering with his attack to get Mbappé and Vinicius Jr. firing on all cylinders. 'It's not about one or the other—they complement each other. Vini's magic on the wing, Kylian's killer instinct inside. They'll click,' Alonso said, brushing off doubts about their chemistry. If Mbappé plays, this could be the moment fans see Real's dream attack come to life. Will Mbappé Start or Be a Substitute?
While Alonso's comments have fans hopeful, the latest buzz suggests Mbappé might not start. Posts on X from accounts like @MadridUniversal and @RealBrasil_BR indicate that young striker Gonzalo García could keep his place after shining in the group stage. García found the net in Real's 1-1 draw with Al Hilal and created plenty of chances, earning high praise from Alonso.
Still, Mbappé's impact, even as a substitute, could be seismic. His lightning speed and lethal finishing could tear apart Juventus' backline, which looked shaky against Manchester City. If he does start, expect a lineup featuring Courtois between the sticks, a defense of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, and Fran Garcia, a midfield trio of Tchouameni, Valverde, and Bellingham, and an attack led by Guler, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappé.
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