PARIS: French footballer Kylian Mbappe has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and will miss this week’s Nations League international match against Croatia.
“Given that the result of his COVID-19 test carried out by UEFA on Monday morning showed up as positive, he was removed from the rest of the squad after the results came through following training, and then returned to his home later in the evening,” the French football federation (FFF) said.
Mbappe, a star of France’s 2018 World Cup victory, scored the winner on Saturday as France beat Sweden 1-0. France play Croatia at Stade de France stadium on Tuesday.
READ MORE: Neymar among three PSG players tested positive for COVID-19
The 21-year old is also the latest member of the Paris Saint Germain (PSG) team to test positive for COVID-19, with Brazilian international Neymar also having tested positive for the virus last week.
“He was set aside from the group after receiving the results at the end of training before returning to his home in the evening,” French team management said.
“Like the rest of the squad, Mbappé had undergone a test prior to meeting up. The result was negative like the one on Wednesday” requested by UEFA ahead of the Sweden fixture on Saturday in Solna, management said.
Mbappe will also miss PSG’s opening game of the Ligue 1 season against Lens on Thursday, along with six other team-mates including Neymar and Argentine pair Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes.
He could also sit out Sunday’s clash with bitter rivals Marseille. According to the league’s health protocol, a player who tests positive must self-isolate for eight days.
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