Mbappé Defends Yamal as Groin Injury Keeps Him Out of Spain Qualifiers

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé has publicly defended Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, saying critics should leave the 18 year old alone as the winger recovers from a groin injury that has ruled him out of Spain’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Yamal will miss Spain’s home fixtures against Georgia and Bulgaria in October after Barcelona reported a recurrence of pubalgia, the club said, prompting Spain coach Luis de la Fuente to withdraw him from the squad.

Mbappé, speaking to reporters, described Yamal as a “great player” whose off-field life should not overshadow his football. “He has a lot of passion for football, and that’s the one thing he can’t lose. The rest is his personal life. We have to leave him alone,” Mbappé said, adding that as an 18 year old Yamal will have life experience and make mistakes. The two players are due to meet on October 26 when Real Madrid host Barcelona in El Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Yamal has begun the season strongly for Barcelona, scoring twice and supplying three assists in four LaLiga matches, and he played a key role in Spain’s opening World Cup qualifying wins, assisting three of his side’s nine goals across fixtures against...