Swedish authorities have closed an investigation into rape allegations against French football star Kylian Mbappé, citing insufficient evidence.
The Swedish Prosecution Authority announced the decision on Thursday without naming any individuals involved in the case.
The allegations surfaced in October, with Swedish media outlets, including public broadcaster SVT and Expressen, reporting that Mbappé was suspected of rape after visiting a Stockholm nightclub and staying at a hotel on October 10. These reports were based on police documents and other sources.
In a statement, prosecutors explained that while the investigation initially identified a suspect on reasonable grounds for rape and two cases of sexual assault, the available evidence was not strong enough to proceed further.
They clarified that the individual in question had not been formally notified of any criminal suspicion.
The French superstar had strongly denied the accusations when they first emerged. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) in October, Mbappé dismissed the claims as “FAKE NEWS.”
His representatives also described the allegations as baseless and vowed to take legal action to defend his reputation against defamatory reports.
The 25-year-old forward, who joined Real Madrid in a high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain, has faced challenges both on and off the field this season.
Despite scoring nine league goals, his performances have been criticized for not meeting expectations.
Adding to his struggles, Mbappé recently missed two crucial penalties in consecutive losses to Liverpool and Athletic Bilbao.
However, he showed resilience by scoring a vital goal in Real Madrid’s Champions League win against Atalanta earlier this week before leaving the match due to injury.
While the investigation’s closure may provide some relief to the player, the episode marks another turbulent chapter in his high-profile career.
