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Adrien Rabiot, the French midfielder, is currently dealing with a minor calf injury sustained during the UEFA Nations League quarter-final against Croatia on March 20, 2025. He was substituted midway through the second half in that match, which France lost 2-0, courtesy of goals from Ante Budimir and Ivan Perisic. Due to this injury, Rabiot is doubtful for the return leg scheduled for Sunday, March 23, 2025. France's coach, Didier Deschamps, commented on the situation, stating, "Rabiot has a calf problem and will not train this evening. It looks complicated for tomorrow."
This isn't the first time Rabiot has faced calf issues. In September 2022, he was sidelined from September 7 to September 30 due to a similar injury. Even in the previous 2023-24 season, Rabiot missed out on 30 games over two windows due to a similar calf problem. France aims to overturn the 2-0 deficit in the upcoming match against Croatia. However, Rabiot's potential absence could pose a challenge for the team's midfield dynamics. The winners of this quarter-final will advance to the semi-finals in June, facing either Spain or the Netherlands.
Recent controversy surrounding Rabiot and his mother Veronique
Recently, Adrien Rabiot, who is playing for French club Marseille, was part of a controversy surrounding his mother. During a match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Marseille on 17 March 2025, Rabiot and his mother, Veronique, were subject to offensive chants and banners from PSG ultras. These actions have been widely condemned within the football community. French national team defender Jules Koundé expressed his support for Rabiot, labeling the insults as "unacceptable" and putting forward the lack of respect in football.
In response to the abuse, Adrien Rabiot publicly criticized PSG's President, Nasser Al Khelaïfi, implying that financial power cannot buy class and even put out an Instagram story around the same incident. The French Professional Football League (LFP) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against PSG due to the homophobic and offensive conduct of their ultras during the match.
