The French Football Federation confirmed after their 1-0 victory over Austria that national team captain Kylian Mbappe sustained a broken nose late in the match during the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament on Monday.
Mbappe, 25, one of the tournament’s standout players, was injured when he collided with Austrian defender Kevin Danso’s shoulder during a header. He left the field near the end of the game in an ambulance for an X-ray examination.
The French FA stated, “Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose during the second half of the Austria-France match on Monday in Düsseldorf.” The diagnosis was confirmed after X-rays at a Düsseldorf hospital.
Mbappe returned to the French team’s camp and will undergo treatment in the coming days without immediate surgery. France is scheduled to face the Netherlands on Friday, casting doubt on Mbappe’s participation, a significant blow for the 2022 World Cup runners-up.
The French FA added, “A mask will be made to allow the number 10 to resume the tournament after a treatment period.”
After initially leaving the pitch for treatment, Mbappe strangely returned to the field, sat down, and was met with boos from Austrian fans, resulting in a yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Mbappe, a key player for France, had been making precise passes, distributing the ball calmly, and accelerating swiftly past opponents. He nearly scored with a powerful low shot in the ninth minute, saved brilliantly by goalkeeper Patrick Pentz.
In the 54th minute, Mbappe dazzled fans by outpacing an Austrian player near the midfield and racing towards the penalty area, only to miss the goal with a surprising shot.
Austrian player Kevin Danso expressed sympathy on Tuesday, posting on social media platform X, “I wish him a speedy recovery and hope he can return to the field quickly.” Danso apologized to French fans, saying, “I am sorry that Kylian Mbappe was injured during our clash.”
