Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s star signing, will not take part in Sunday’s match against Pachuca in the second round of the Club World Cup, as he continues to recover from an acute gastroenteritis that already kept him out of the team’s debut against Al Hilal.

Sources from the Spanish club confirmed that the French striker will remain in Palm Beach, where he will continue his recovery program under the supervision of the medical staff. Despite working out at the hotel gym where the team is based, Mbappé is not yet physically fit to compete and will therefore not travel with the squad to Charlotte.

A Madrid without its No. 9 for a crucial match

The forward only managed to train normally on Sunday and Monday before developing a fever that led to a brief hospitalization after the opening match in Miami. Although he was discharged and has shown signs of improvement, Xabi Alonso will not be able to count on his top attacking weapon for a key match in the team’s Club World Cup campaign.

Real Madrid will travel to Charlotte on Saturday afternoon, where they’ll face Pachuca at the Bank of America Stadium. The match, set for 3:00 p.m. local time (9:00 p.m. in Spain), is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Group H, with both teams needing points to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.

On the Mexican side, pressure is also mounting. Jaime Lozano’s squad suffered a 2-1 loss in their opener against Salzburg, and another defeat would almost certainly eliminate them from the competition.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will take on the challenge without their main reference in attack, relying on the depth of their squad to get the job done. All eyes will also be on Mbappé’s recovery, as Madrid fans eagerly await the return of their new star.