Mbappé Hospitalized with Food Poisoning, Struggles at FIFA Club World Cup

Kylian Mbappe's performance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup was severely impacted by a serious case of food poisoning caused by bacterial contamination from spoiled chicken, which led to his hospitalization and significant physical decline, including a loss of six kilograms. This illness forced him to miss the group stage matches and limited his participation to substitute appearances in knockout rounds, though he scored a spectacular bicycle kick goal against Borussia Dortmund. Despite his efforts, Mbappe and Real Madrid suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to his former club Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals, highlighting ongoing challenges in his adaptation to Real Madrid. Analysts have criticized Mbappe's current fit with the club, noting that while both he and Real Madrid can perform well individually, their partnership is yet to succeed. Mbappe also showed a compassionate side during the tournament by checking on a volunteer who was accidentally hit by a ball during warm-ups. PSG, led by coach Luis Enrique, displayed superior collective performance and mentality, decisively outplaying Real Madrid during the tournament.