Real Madrid's 2-0 victory over Espanyol on Sunday came at a cost, as defender Ferland Mendy was forced off just 10 minutes into the match with an apparent right leg muscle injury.

The 30-year-old French left-back, who has been plagued by fitness issues throughout the season, pulled up while sprinting for the ball and immediately signaled to the bench. It's a familiar and frustrating scene for a player who has managed only nine appearances for Los Blancos this campaign.

Mendy's injury woes couldn't come at a worse time. With the World Cup on the horizon, this latest setback may dash any lingering hopes of earning a recall to the French national team. Though he was part of Les Bleus' squad at the 2024 European Championship, he hasn't received a call-up since.

Real Madrid have yet to release official details on the severity of the injury, leaving fans and fantasy managers anxiously awaiting further updates. For a player who has been a key cog in Madrid's defensive machine when fit, this is yet another blow in a season defined by stops and starts.