With just one final training session remaining—scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday—Mbappé is highly unlikely to feature against Salzburg (Wednesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET). While he hasn’t been officially ruled out, a significant improvement over the next 24 hours would be required for him to make the squad.

In today’s session in Palm Beach, which was limited to injured players due to a day off for the rest of the team, Kylian once again remained indoors. No training on the pitch—only gym-based conditioning work. His body is still returning to normal, following its natural recovery process.

The aftereffects of the severe gastroenteritis he contracted almost immediately upon arriving in the United States have left him notably weakened, along with some minor weight loss—though nothing alarming. He lost just over a kilo, which he has slowly been regaining. The intense heat, with a perceived temperature of 98-100ºF, hasn’t aided his recovery either.

A final decision on his availability will be made tomorrow, following a three-way discussion between Kylian, Xabi Alonso, and the medical team.

The Parisian star hasn’t been able to accelerate his recovery, nor is Madrid pressuring him to do so. Far from it. Gonzalo has emerged as one of the revelations of this World Cup, more than compensating for the double absence of their number 9 (against both Al Hilal and Pachuca). The medical and recovery staff are fully focused on how Mbappé feels, allowing the process to unfold naturally and without haste.

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