Ethan Mbappé exits injured in 12th minute on first start with France U21s

Ethan Mbappé endured a nightmarish first start with France U21s, forced to leave the pitch just 12 minutes into the match after a violent challenge to his right ankle during the Bleuets’ 2-0 victory in Estonia on Tuesday evening.

The LOSC winger was preparing to cross when he suffered the impact. Unable to continue, he immediately gave way to a substitute, leaving his teammates to finish the match without him. Gérald Baticle, the U21s manager, made no attempt to hide his concern at the final whistle. “At this moment, I am worried,” he said. “I hope I’m worrying for nothing, but I am because I saw the midfielder’s action and I don’t like to see gestures like that. Now I’m waiting for the full results of the examinations.”

Ethan Mbappé must undergo radiological examinations in Estonia before returning to France with the rest of the squad on Wednesday afternoon. The remainder of his international gathering appears more than compromised, and concern extends to his upcoming commitments with Lille.

The former PSG player was not the only casualty of the evening. His ex-PSG teammate Senny Mayulu also left the pitch prematurely in the 41st minute after pain in his left thigh. The Paris midfielder will be examined on Wednesday to determine whether further tests are necessary. Faced with this injury crisis, the staff also made a precautionary substitution of Lens player Ismaëlo Ganiou at halftime to preserve their replacement options.

Despite this concerning medical report, the Bleuets secured a valuable victory that brings them closer to qualification for the next U21 European Championship.