Kylian Mbappé jeered Real Madrid fans as he limps off during club’s Champions League exit at hands of Arsenal

Kylian Mbappé had a night to forget against Arsenal on Wednesday, limping off the pitch with an ankle injury, while Real Madrid got knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals. But the insult to injury came not from the opposition team, it came from the home fans at the Bernabeu, who booed the talismanic forward as he trudged off on the night.
Mbappe was replaced Brahim Díaz in the 75th minute after the Frenchman twed his right ankle. Media reports said that most of the crowd actually jeered when his substitution was announced. While Mbappe did not need help to walk off the pitch, he was seen limping. Real Madrid are yet to release a statement on Mbappe’s injury and the road ahead. The injury comes at a crucial juncture for the Spanish giants: in 10 days, they take on arch-nemesis Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final in Sevilla. Real are just four points behind Barca in the La Liga race as the homestretch begins.
Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory in the Bernabeu to round off a 5-1 demolition over two legs of the defending champions. The result meant that while Arsenal are heading to the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2009, Real Madrid will not be in the last four at the European club championship for the first time since 2020.
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Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka celebrates with Gabriel Martinelli after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League quarterfinals match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. (AP Photo)
The frustration of the fans at the Berbabeu was directed at Mbappe, who is in his first season at the Spanish giants. Mbappé has failed to score in five games in all competitions. More critically, he could muster no attempts on target on Wednesday against Arsenal as his side desperately prayed for inspiration.
The closest Mbappé came to making an impact on Real Madrid’s fortunes came when he earned a penalty but a video review later overturned the referee’s call.
(With inputs from Reuters, AP)