France and PSG forward Kylian Mbappe will miss this week’s Nations League international against Croatia in Paris on Tuesday after testing positive for the global virus, the French football federation confirmed on Monday.
The young forward is asymptomatic and has already left the squad to return home to undergo self-isolation.
"Kylian Mbappe will not participate in France versus Croatia on Tuesday evening at 20:45CET at the Stade de France," a statement from the French FA has confirmed.
"The result of his test carried out by UEFA on Monday morning was found to be positive. He was placed away from the group after receiving the results, at the end of training, before going back to his own home in the evening.
"Like the entire delegation, Kylian Mbappe had undergone a test prior to the games of the international break. The result was negative, like the one last Wednesday, at the request of UEFA, before Sweden against France."
Mbappe has been in a fine run of form, having scored an impeccable winner from an acute angle for France in their 1-0 victory over Sweden. And now that his report has returned positive, his involvement in PSG's Ligue 1 opener against Lens on Thursday followed by Le Classique against Marseille on Sunday is under scrutiny.
Several players from France's squad, including midfielders Paul Pogba, Tanguy Ndombele and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, have tested positive for the virus, while for PSG, on September 4, confirmed that as many as three players have contracted the illness. The list includes the likes of Neymar, Marquinhos, Keylor Navas, Angel Di Maria, Mauro Icardi and Leandro Paredes. With Mbappe joining the fray, the French champions will be without seven players for their opening game against Lens.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Jonathan Nackstrand
