MIAMI — Kylian Mbappe has been admitted to the hospital with a serious bout of gastroenteritis, adding another challenge to Real Madrid’s bumpy start at the Club World Cup.

The French forward did not feature in Madrid’s first match of the tournament on Wednesday, a surprising 1-1 draw against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia in Miami, due to a high fever.

Head coach Xabi Alonso said Mbappe was in poor condition and had been unable to train in the days leading up to the match. With Madrid scheduled to play Mexican side Pachuca in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sunday, his availability for the rest of the tournament is now uncertain.

The club confirmed Mbappe would undergo medical testing and follow a recovery plan as advised by team doctors.

Gastroenteritis, more commonly known as the stomach flu, typically involves symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can severely affect athletic performance.

Mbappe’s absence is a setback not just for Madrid but for the tournament itself. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has positioned the revamped Club World Cup as a global spectacle to match the appeal of the Champions League and domestic top-tier leag ues.

In the absence of Lionel Messi, Mbappe stands as one of the event’s marquee attractions, with Real Madrid heavily favored to claim the title in this first expanded edition of the Club World Cup.

However, fans at Hard Rock Stadium—over 62,000 of them—were left disappointed as the 25-year-old did not take the field during Madrid’s opening match at the home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

Madrid missed his presence on the pitch, too. The team struggled to find rhythm against Al Hilal and failed to convert a stoppage-time penalty that could have sealed the win.

The match marked Xabi Alonso’s debut as Real Madrid manager, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, who departed after a trophy-laden tenure to take charge of Brazil’s national team.

Even as the clear favorite, Madrid had a difficult night, narrowly avoiding conceding more goals during a shaky first half. After the draw, Alonso urged supporters and media to give the new era time to settle.

“We know this is going to take time,” he commented postgame.

Mbappe, 26, led Real Madrid in scoring last season with 43 goals in 56 appearances, following his blockbuster move from Paris Saint-Germain.

His latest health setback comes nearly a year after he sustained a broken nose at the European Championship, where he had to wear a protective face mask to continue playing.