Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose during France’s 1-0 victory against Austria in the Euro 2024.
His broken nose will not keep him out of action for Euro 2024, as the French forward is set to play with a protective face mask for the remainder of the tournament.
Following the game, the French FA confirmed that Mbappe will continue playing and the player himself took to social media to ask for suggestions on what type of mask he should wear.
Several football players have worn face masks after sustaining injuries. The face mask is to protect them against more facial fractures or nose injuries.
Below are some notable examples of football players who had to wear protective face masks:
1.Pierre Aubameyang
Aubameyang wore a face mask following his £10 million move to Stamford Bridge.
His house was broken into, leading to jewelry being carted away and Aubameyang was injured during that burglary in August 2022.
2. Petr Cech
The former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper famously wore a protective skull cap after sustaining a serious head injury in a collision with an opponent in a game against Reading in 2006.
Cech continued to wear the skull cap for the rest of his career to protect himself against further head injuries.
3. Josko Gvardiol
The Manchester City star was spotted wearing a protective mask during Croatia vs Japan game in the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
This eye-catching accessory was a result of a broken nose he suffered while playing for RB Leipzig in a match against SC Freiburg in 2022 after colliding with team-mate Willi Orban.
4. Son Heung-min
Son donned a protective face mask in an FA Cup game against Portsmouth after sustaining a facial injury in a Champions League clash with Marseille in November 2022.
5. Victor Osimhen
The Nigeria striker also faced a similar situation, wearing a mask due to an eye socket injury he sustained during a Serie A match against Inter Milan in 2021.
More players that wore face masks to play football before Kylian Mbappe
6. Diego Costa
The former Chelsea player donned a mask in 2016 after breaking his nose in a training session collision with Fikayo Tomori.
7. Cesc Fabregas
Another Chelsea former star, Cesc Fabregas, sported a mask in 2015 after suffering a similar injury against Stoke.
The midfield maestro known as ‘king of pass’ even scored a crucial goal in a win over QPR while wearing the mask.
8. Robert Lewandowski
Former Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski also found himself wearing a protective mask after fracturing his nose and jaw during a Bundesliga match in 2015 against Borussia Dortmund.
9. Fernando Torres
Chelsea’s Fernando Torres donned a mask while playing against his former club, Liverpool in 2013. Steaua Bucharest fouled him in the Europa League campaign.
10. Daniele de Rossi
Former Roma midfielder and current manager Daniele de Rossi also had to wear a protective mask after suffering a double fracture of his cheekbone against Inter Milan in 2009.
11. John Terry
Former Chelsea captain John Terry is another player who has worn a face mask, notably during training for a Champions League match against Valencia in 2007.
The Blues legendary defender was fouled by Clint Dempsey during a match against Fulham.
12. Paul Gascoigne
Legendary English midfielder Paul Gascoigne had to wear a protective mask during a World Cup Qualifier against Poland in 1993 after breaking his cheekbone.
He was elbowed by Netherlands captain Jan Wouters in another qualifier.
Kylian Mbappe will join these other players who have worn mask
In the past, Chelsea star like Pedro had to don a mask to protect himself while out on the field.
Even England captain Harry Kane wore a protective mask after breaking his nose during an FA Cup match for Tottenham against Crystal Palace in 2016.
These are just a few examples of football players who have worn masks after sustaining injuries.
In most cases, players wear the masks for a short period until their injuries have healed sufficiently to allow them to play without protection.
What’s next for France and Kylian Mbappe?
Fans around the world will now be keeping a close eye on Mbappe not only for his skills on the field but also for his unique fashion statement with the protective face mask.
It remains to be seen how this will affect his performance, but knowing Mbappe, he will surely rise to the occasion and continue to dazzle spectators with his talent.
France will face Group rival the Netherlands on Friday, June 21 at Red Bull Arena with kick-off set at 8 pm.
