Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Kylian Mbappe will miss Real Madrid’s Club World Cup clash with Pachuca, but is hopeful that the striker will return against Red Bull Salzburg.

Real Madrid announced on Thursday that Mbappe was suffering from the illness and, as such, had been admitted with acute gastroenteritis and missed their draw against Al-Hilal.

The France international, who scored 43 goals in all competitions in his debut campaign for Los Blancos last season, has since been discharged and returned to the squad.

Mbappe reportedly skipped Saturday’s training session, with Alonso revealing that the 26-year-old would not be part of the travelling squad for their Group H clash.

“He’s feeling a bit better. He’s back at the hotel after being released from the hospital,” Alonso told DAZN.

“But I think Sunday will be tough for him. Hopefully, we can have him back for the Salzburg match.”

We’re in Charlotte! pic.twitter.com/M1n2obKQl6

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) June 21, 2025

Alonso’s side are currently second in their group, behind Salzburg after they beat Pachuca in their first group match.

Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal ended a run of 11 straight wins in the Club World Cup, ending the longest winning run by any side in the tournament’s history.

It was the first time they had failed to win a Club World Cup match since 2000 (1-1 vs. Necaxa, lost 3-4 on penalties).

In the previous meeting between the teams last year, it was Madrid who came out on top 3-0 in their FIFA Intercontinental Cup match.

In their December 2024 affair in Qatar, both Madrid and Pachuca had 12 shots each, with the Spanish team having one more shot on target (five compared to the Mexican side (four), as well as boasting a superior expected goals (xG) (2.47 – 0.35).