Mbappe scores France winner on Zidane's debut but limps off with knee injury in Turkey

Kylian Mbappe handed Zinedine Zidane a winning start as France head coach but then hobbled out of the 1-0 victory over Turkey in İzmit on Wednesday with a left knee tendon injury that prompted an immediate concern from his new manager.

Mbappe, the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, rifled in a low finish in the 54th minute after Michael Olise threaded a precise pass into his path. Within moments, the Real Madrid forward was on the ground clutching his left leg, and Zidane was forced to withdraw him shortly after.

“No, it’s not good. It’s not good, unfortunately,” Zidane told French television. “We will not take risks.”

The France camp confirmed Mbappe suffered a knee tendon injury and that he would return to Madrid for treatment. No immediate replacement was named in the squad.

Zidane had fielded an attack-minded starting line-up for his first game in charge, with Mbappe on the left flank, Ousmane Dembele through the centre, Olise on the right wing, and Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki in midfield.

The match at Kocaeli Stadium was a scrappy affair, with both sides struggling for fluency on a bumpy playing surface. France came closest before the break when Olise’s dipping shot forced a fine save from Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir, and Adrien Rabiot wasted the rebound by scooping over after good work from Cherki and Dembele.

At the other end, France goalkeeper Mike Maignan matched Cakir’s earlier effort with a stunning one-handed stop to deny Ismail Yuksek’s downward header. Cakir was then sent off in the 87th minute for blocking Bradley Barcola’s shot with his arm outside the penalty area.

Mbappe’s goal ultimately proved the difference, but the injury overshadowed what should have been a straightforward winning start for Zidane, who took charge of the national side earlier this year.