PSG and France striker Kylian Mbappe tests positive for COVID-19

He will miss France’s UEFA Nations League game against Crotia and Paris Saint-Germain’s season opener.

On Monday, Kylian Mbappe became the 7th player from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to test positive for COVID-19. The 21-year-old striker was tested ahead of France’s matchup against Croatia on Tuesday in UEFA Nations League.

A statement from the French Football Federation said that he had been isolated from the rest of the national team before returning home.

Mbappe is the 7th player from Paris Saint-Germain, the top squad in France’s Ligue 1, to test positive. Neymar, Marquinhos, Mauro Icardi, Keylor Navas, Angel di Maria, and Leandro Paredes have also tested positive for the virus.

PSG’s Sporting Director Leonardo was furious to learn about Mbappe’s case from the news rather than the French federation. “I find it completely unacceptable to learn in the media that one of our players is positive,” he said. “No one at the FFF told us.”

What caused PSG’s coronavirus outbreak?

The outbreak of COVID-19 cases on Paris Saint-Germain’s squad can be traced back to a few players who holidayed on the Spanish island Ibiza after losing the Champions League Final. Neymar, Paredes, di Maria, and Marquinhos were all on the trip. Marco Verratti, who was also on the trip, has tested negative.

PSG is not the only European team to see an outbreak of COVID-19 as teams begin the 2020-2021 season. The Czech Republic had to scramble to put together a team for their UEFA Nations League match against Scotland on Monday after members of their staff tested positive. Manchester City announced on Monday morning that Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte have tested positive. And while England has avoided any positive cases so far, they removed two young players from the team on Monday after they violated safety protocols.

PSG is set to play their Ligue 1 season opener on Thursday, September 10th against the newly-promoted club Lens.