Kylian Mbappé Returns to Real Madrid After World Cup: Schedule and Next Steps

Kylian Mbappé Returns to Real Madrid After World Cup: Schedule and Next Steps

Mbappé's World Cup campaign with France ended in a 6-4 loss to England in the third-place match, with the French star taking the lead for the World Cup's top scorer.

What happened?

Mbappé's World Cup run ended with a 6-4 loss to England in the third-place match on Saturday. The French star took the lead for the World Cup's top scorer, but his team ultimately fell short.

Why it matters for Kylian Mbappé

Mbappé's World Cup campaign was a long and grueling one, with the French star playing a key role in his team's success. Now, he'll have a few weeks to rest before returning to Real Madrid for a new season under José Mourinho's management.

What comes next?

Mbappé will head back to Real Madrid, where Mourinho has returned as manager. The club's next game against Deportivo La Coruña will come in a friendly on Wednesday, August 12. However, Madrid's competitive debut in La Liga is set for Saturday, August 22, when it faces Espanyol at RCDE Stadium.

It is unclear how quickly Mbappé will be available for Madrid after France's World Cup run ended. That gives him a little more than a month before Real Madrid's La Liga opener, though his exact return will likely depend on rest, recovery, and Mourinho's preseason plan.

France's next games will come during the September international window, when Les Bleus open their UEFA Nations League campaign in League A Group A1. France will take on Türkiye on September 25 before facing Belgium on September 28. Those matches are also expected to begin a new era for France, with Zinedine Zidane widely expected to take charge after Didier Deschamps' final match as manager.

Zidane, one of the greatest players in French football history, helped lead France to the 1998 World Cup as a player before later building a brilliant managerial résumé at Real Madrid, where he won three straight Champions League titles. For Mbappé, that means the next few months will bring two fresh starts: a new season at Real Madrid under Mourinho, and a new international chapter with France under Zidane.

Mbappé now heads back to Real Madrid, where he'll have a few weeks to rest before the new season begins. The French star will be looking to make a strong impression under Mourinho's management, and his return to the pitch will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike.

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