Kylian Mbappe was sent off on Sunday afternoon for a ‘horrific’ high-footed challenge that saw him stamp forcefully on an opponent’s shin during a rapid run-up.

The Real Madrid forward was shown a straight red card following the reckless tackle during the first half of their LaLiga clash away to Deportivo Alaves.

The incident comes just three days before Los Blancos attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit in the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Originally shown a yellow card, Mbappe’s punishment was upgraded after the referee reviewed the brutal challenge on Antonio Blanco from several angles.

LaLiga’s Competition Committee will determine the length of his suspension, and a three-game ban would see him miss the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.

However, the ban will not apply to Champions League fixtures, allowing Mbappe to feature in the key clash with Arsenal on Wednesday.

Kylian Mbappe was dismissed after this nasty foul on Deportivo Alaves’ Antonio Blanco on Sunday afternoon.

The red card was issued after a video review, but he remains eligible to face Arsenal in the Champions League.

Though a domestic suspension might rule him out of the Copa del Rey final, Mbappe can still try to lead Madrid’s comeback against Arsenal midweek.

His dismissal comes at a pivotal stage, with Madrid still trailing Barcelona in the LaLiga title race.

“Vile ‘challenge’ by Mbappe… malicious intent and easily could’ve shattered the guy’s leg. A red card is the bare minimum,” Piers Morgan posted on X.

“A truly horrible foul,” another fan said online.

“I get that he can’t be banned from the Champions League,” one user added, “but with a tackle that dangerous… honestly, he should miss the next 10 matches. Stuff like that needs to be stamped out before someone’s career is ruined.”

Another comment read: “Straight red, no debate. Wild aggression, no intention of winning the ball.”

“He should be arrested after that,” someone else wrote.

Some interpreted it as a burst of frustration from Mbappe after a tough week in which Madrid were humbled in Europe’s top competition – and the French striker was largely nullified by Arsenal’s William Saliba.

Mbappe, 26, who is still chasing his first Champions League title, remained confident after Madrid’s 3-0 loss at the Emirates, where Declan Rice and company dominated.

“We have to keep believing until the end,” he posted on Instagram after the defeat.

He also told the press: “Of course we can come back.”

Madrid, naturally, are well-known for their dramatic European comebacks, which have become part of club lore over the years.

Manchester City experienced it in 2022, when they led by two goals on aggregate entering the 90th minute of the second leg — only for Rodrygo to score twice and knock them out on away goals.