Real Madrid's star forward and top scorer, Kylian Mbappé, will not start in the highly anticipated 2026 Spanish Supercopa de España final against rivals Barcelona today, January 11, 2026. The decision comes after the French international sustained a knee sprain in late December, making him unfit for a full match. According to reports, including one from French news outlet RMC Sport cited by Barca Universal, Mbappé is only deemed fit enough to play for a maximum of 30 minutes in the crucial 'El Clásico' encounter. This development is seen as a considerable boost for Barcelona, who face Real Madrid in the final held at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Contrary to some initial assumptions, Kylian Mbappé is indeed a Real Madrid player, having officially joined the club in July 2024 and becoming their leading goal scorer in the 2025/2026 season. Furthermore, Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player, was officially appointed as Real Madrid's new head coach on May 25, 2025, taking charge from June 1, 2025, for three seasons. This real-time information confirms the context provided by related articles regarding Mbappé's club and Alonso's managerial role. The main claims of the Barca Universal article, concerning Mbappé's absence from the starting lineup and limited play time, are corroborated by multiple credible sources, indicating the news is accurate and current.