There is concern within the corridors of Real Madrid, after the absence of star French striker Kylian Mbappe from the team's group training for the second day in a row, on Thursday, which raises big questions about the possibility of his participation in the upcoming match against Real Sociedad next Saturday in the Spanish Football League.

Sources within Real Madrid confirmed to AFP that the team's top scorer was unable to join his teammates and only performed "individual work indoors" on Wednesday and Thursday, without providing precise medical details about the severity of the injury. However, the coaching staff, led by Carlo Ancelotti, is waiting for the final training session on Friday to determine the player's final status.

Concerns about recurring injuries and the impact of absences

Spanish press reports indicate that Mbappe is suffering from persistent pain in his left knee, the same knee in which he suffered a sprain in late 2015. The French national team captain had pushed himself and rushed his return to the field to support his team in important matches, which may have caused the current pain to recur.

Real Madrid's concern is not limited to the absence of Mbappe alone, but the team is facing a real crisis in its ranks, as the potential absence of the player who scored 38 goals in 31 matches in various competitions will join a long list of injured players that includes key pillars such as the English star Jude Bellingham, and the Brazilians Rodrygo and Eder Militao, which puts the coach in a tactical predicament before facing a tough opponent like Real Sociedad.

The heated battle for the top spot with Barcelona

The upcoming match is of paramount importance in the La Liga title race this season, with Real Madrid currently in second place with 57 points, just one point behind their arch-rivals Barcelona, ​​who lead the table with 58 points. Los Blancos will be hoping for a victory on Saturday to temporarily claim the top spot and put pressure on the Catalan giants, but their task will be far from easy against Real Sociedad, who sit in eighth place and are looking to climb the standings.

The absence of a player of Mbappe's stature and influence is a major blow to Real Madrid's attacking power, especially given his record-breaking achievements as the top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League, making it extremely difficult to replace him in such crucial matches that require individual and collective solutions to unlock the opponents' defenses.

The eyes of motorsport fans around the world will be on Jeddah, the Bride of the Red Sea, tomorrow, Friday, February 13, 2026, as the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2026 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship kick off. These competitions, part of the 12th edition of the global championship, are called the "Jeddah E-Prix 2026," confirming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position as a major destination for this sustainable sport. The Kingdom is hosting rounds of the championship for the eighth consecutive time, but this time amidst an exciting atmosphere at the Jeddah Corniche circuit, organized by the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation and under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Sports.

Hosting this global event is of paramount importance, as the Kingdom is a strategic partner in the development of electric motorsports. His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sport and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, affirmed that the Kingdom's continued hosting of the ABB Formula E World Championship for the eighth time reflects the unwavering support of the wise leadership – may God protect them – and their keen interest in the sports sector, which has directly contributed to transforming Saudi Arabia into a global sporting destination that hosts major events.

In the context of promoting sustainability concepts, His Highness said: “Holding the ABB Formula E races in Jeddah supports the Kingdom’s tireless efforts to promote the use of clean energy, and opens up broad horizons to empower the nation’s youth and benefit from their capabilities in organizing and managing major global events. This comes amidst an environment that combines speed, excitement and the latest technologies, which contributes to raising the rates of sports tourism and attracting audiences from all over the world.”.

On the technical front, the race promises fierce competition with 20 drivers representing 10 of the world's top manufacturers. The drivers will compete on a specially modified 3.01 km track at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The list of participants includes some of the biggest names, led by New Zealander Nick Cassidy and Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne of the Citroën team, and Brazilian Felipe Drogovich and Briton Jake Dennis of the Andretti team. Swede Joel Ericsson and Swiss driver Sébastien Buemi will also be competing for the Envision Racing team, while German Maximilian Günther and Briton Taylor Barnard will represent the DS Penske team.

The excitement continues with the Yamaha team, featuring Barbadian Zane Maloney and veteran Brazilian Lucas di Grassi. The Cobra Kiro team boasts Briton Dan Ticktum and Spaniard Pepe Martí, while Nissan relies on the experience of Briton Oliver Rowland and Frenchman Norman Nato. Mahindra Racing is represented by Swiss driver Edouard Mortara and Dutchman Nyck de Vries, while Portuguese António Félix da Costa and New Zealander Mitch Evans are in the Jaguar TCS Racing lineup. The Porsche team's ambitions are spearheaded by German Pascal Wehrlein and Swiss Nico Müller.

Looking at the championship standings before the Jeddah round, the first three rounds were held in São Paulo, Mexico City, and Miami. New Zealander Nick Cassidy of Citroën Racing currently leads the overall standings, ahead of his closest rivals, German Pascal Wehrlein of Porsche and Briton Jake Dennis of Andretti, promising a fierce competition in Jeddah to seize or extend their lead.

Hosting the "Jeddah E-Prix 2026" is in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which focuses on supporting the national economy and diversifying its sources, paying attention to clean energy to reach a sustainable environment, in addition to building a vibrant and sporting society that achieves national aspirations and enhances the quality of life.

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The Saudi Arabian U-20 women's national team launched its training camp today in Jeddah, which is scheduled to run until February 21. This gathering is part of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's plan for age-group national teams, aimed at raising the players' technical and physical readiness and ensuring the continuity of training programs to develop young national talent.

List of young women called up for the Green Team

The national team's coaching staff called up a list of 24 players to join this important camp, which included a selection of rising talents from Saudi clubs, namely: Dima Sheikh, Al-Jawhara Turki, Sara Nayef, Layan Amir, Aseel Ahmed, Tulin Al-Ghamdi, Mawada Al-Maghribi, Maria Baghfar, Joan Al-Nassar, Maha Al-Badrani, Reem Shadi, Miral Daghistani, Jude Al-Amoudi, Lulu Abdullah, Lama Thamer, Rimas Ahmed, Zahra Talib, Dana Al-Dahyan, Yasmin Malibari, Zainab Reda, Lamar Wael, Heba Ohashi, Malakout Al-Salem, and Kenzi Alaa.

Context of developing women's football in the Kingdom

This training camp is an extension of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation's ongoing efforts to develop women's football, which has witnessed significant progress in recent years. These initiatives align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes the sports sector and empowers women across various fields, including competitive sports. The launch of the Saudi Women's Premier League and the First Division League has contributed to the emergence of young talents who require continuous development through the national teams.

The strategic importance of Jeddah camp

The Jeddah camp is of particular importance as it focuses on the under-20 girls' category, which is considered the primary feeder for the senior women's national team. Through these camps, the federation aims to build a strong competitive base that ensures the sustainability of talent and prepares a generation capable of representing the Kingdom in upcoming regional and continental competitions, whether in the West Asian Football Federation championships or the Asian qualifiers.

Technical Program and Objectives

The training camp schedule includes a comprehensive and intensive program, with the coaching staff focusing on precise technical and tactical aspects, as well as improving the players' fitness levels. The staff also places great emphasis on fostering harmony and understanding among the players, who come from different clubs, contributing to improved team performance and preparing the national team in the best possible way for upcoming official and friendly competitions.