Kylian Mbappe was recently spotted donning a face mask in France’s ultimate group-stage bout against Poland in Euros 2024. The prolific forward is set to wear the protective gear for the remainder of the continental tournament. But why was the ex-Paris Saint Germain striker wearing a mask in the first place?
Here’s all you need to know about Mbappe’s decision to go with the mask.
Why does Kylian Mbappe wear a mask?
Kylian Mbappe reportedly suffered a daunting blow in his side’s Euros opener against Austria. The 25-year-old attacker crashed into opposing defender Kevin Danso’s shoulder, which left him with a bloody nose. As a result, he will be wearing a face mask in France’s upcoming games in the competition.
Mbappe’s on-field injury insinuated panic among his fans, who were worried about his participation in the remaining matches. However, it was later confirmed that the football superstar would not require immediate surgery, according to The Independent. Two days following the incident, the star returned to training with a mask strapped to his face.
Initially, the attacking talisman turned up to training wearing a mask covered in the colors of the French flag. Nevertheless, the blue-white-red protective equipment was ultimately banned by UEFA due to their rules that only allow medical gear of a single color on the field. Consequently, Mbappe took to the pitch against Poland, sporting a black mask instead.
He was an unused substitute in France’s goalless draw against Netherlands. The up-and-coming forward announced his comeback in style, notching his side’s only goal in their final group-stage clash against Poland. Thanks to his solitary goal, France was able to sneak past the Netherlands and make it into the knockout phase of the ongoing Euros.
Having signed for Champions League winners Real Madrid, Mbappe will join the Spanish side after his stint with France in Europe’s premier competition.
