Kylian Mbappe sustained a broken nose in France's opening Euro 2024 match against Austria.
Mbappe went up for a header late in the second half but only succeeded in accidentally head-butting Kevin Danso's shoulder. The France captain, 25, immediately went down in agony as blood poured from his nose.
The French medical staff came on to attend to their star player, whose white shirt was quickly stained red with his blood. After he was taken to the sidelines, Mbappe came back onto the pitch and was then booked by the referee for delaying the game.
"Kylian Mbappe has gone back on the pitch without permission - the referee is going to book him and rightly so," Matt Upson said on co-commentary duty for BBC Radio 5 Live. "You cannot do that! Was he advised to go back on? He just walked back on holding his nose and sat down on the pitch. It looks like he has badly damaged his nose."
Eventually, he was replaced by Olivier Giroud and France held on to their lead to win 1-0. After the full-time whistle
Speaking about Mbappe's decision to return to the pitch to stop play, Roy Keane said on ITV: "He gets an injury, it's frustrating. Obviously, he's gone back onto the pitch to stop the play. But he's gone on to sit on the pitch, I don't like to see this, this is out of order if he's been instructed by the manager to go back on."
Eventually, he was replaced by Olivier Giroud and France held on to their lead to win 1-0. After the full-time whistle, Mbappe went to hospital in Dusseldorf for medical checks and evaluations.
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France manager Didier Deschamps said post-match: “He’s not doing well. He’s with the medical staff. His nose got badly hit, that’s for sure. We need to check it out, but it seems quite complicated. Which is very unfortunate for us tonight."
Asked when he might return, he added: “I don’t have the elements in my hands, the medical staff is checking him out. He didn’t get off lightly. It’s still to be seen. And at this stage, I can’t answer. I don’t know. That's the black mark from this evening."
However, at 1am local time, Mbappe was in better spirits, having been told he wouldn't need surgery. He took to social media to ask: “Any ideas for masks”.
A statement from the French Football Federation soon followed, declaring: “Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose during the second part of the Austria-France held this Monday in Düsseldorf.
"The captain of France was treated first by the medical staff and Dr. Franck Le Gall, who diagnosed him with a nose fracture.
“Mbappe will receive treatment in the next few days, but he will not undergo surgery in the immediate future A mask will be made for him so that the number 10 of the French national team can prepare for his return to the competition after a period dedicated to treatment."
Mbappe's night may have ended in pain, but he was key in setting up France's only goal of the night. The striker, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid this summer, put in the cross that Max Wober inexplicably headed into his own net in the first half.
The 25-year-old was appointed France captain by manager Didier Deschamps before the tournament and led from the front in Dusseldorf as France opened their competition with a narrow win.
France came into the tournament as one of the strong favourites and took the lead when Wober headed in Mbappe's cross. Les Bleus pushed for a second goal after the break, but Antoine Griezmann couldn't get on the end of Theo Hernandez's cross and Jules Kounde's follow-up effort was blocked. Mbappe then surprisingly missed a one-on-one chance, firing his effort wide of the post.
Austria went closest when Mike Maignan saved from Christoph Baumgartner's scuffed effort and N'Golo Kante cleaned up a dangerous counter-attack. Mbappe wasn't the only Frenchman to have a painful evening, with Griezmann sustaining a gash to his forehead after being pushed into the advertising hoardings by Wober.
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