Aurélien Tchouaméni addresses injury and France national team absence

Real Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni has addressed his recent absence from the France national team, revealing that he played through significant pain during the 2026 World Cup. Tchouaméni admitted to taking risks that affected his performance, stating, “it was not the real Aurélien Tchouaméni.”

His absence from Zinédine Zidane’s first squad as France manager was a strategic decision to prioritize his physical recovery. Zidane and Real Madrid reportedly agreed to allow the player to focus on physical conditioning with his club during the international window to manage ongoing muscular issues.

Despite the recent hiatus, analysts suggest Tchouaméni remains a fundamental part of the French midfield and is expected to return for the next international gathering in November.