What happened: Kylian Mbappé said he tried to make the most of his season at Real Madrid, telling Abraham Romero that a January injury set him back before he returned in strong form. He added that the World Cup matters to every player, signaling where his focus turns next.

Why it matters: Mbappé's fitness is central to Real Madrid's plans, and his framing of the campaign as one disrupted but recovered from points to a player heading into the offseason healthy. His nod to the World Cup underscores how the international calendar now shapes the priorities of the club's biggest names.

What to watch: Watch for how Mbappé's form carries into the upcoming 2026 season and whether his World Cup ambitions factor into his summer preparation.