Mbappe puzzles fans and onlookers with a customised mask

WEB DESK: Famous French footballer Kylian Mbappe turned a few heads enough by wearing a customised mask to practice, enough to even end up trending online.

The heavily-celebrated Mbappe is famous for his on-field prowess. However, this time it wasn’t his football skills that has him trending. No, its a painful injury during France’s Euro 2024 match that landed him on trending charts online.

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The French footballer suffered a broken nose in a collision with Austria’s Kevin Danso. Mbappe then decided to wear a mask, a complete medical necessity and not any publicity stunt.

After sustaining a broken nose, athletes like Mbappe often opt for protective masks to safeguard the injury from further trauma. Such masks allowing players to continue playing despite injury and before their injury is completely healed.

Players’ performance and safety hinge on their ability to maintain their competitive edge despite injury setbacks.

In such high-stakes tournaments as the Euros, where every player’s contribution can make a significant difference for their team, it makes sense why Mbappe decided to wear a customised medical mask.

Fans are still concerned, however. While face masks are allowed for medical reasons on the field, they are heavily regulated. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) that governs European football, allows only wearing a plain mask with no decoration or similar embellishments.

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There were concerns that Mbappe’s collaborative mask featuring the French flag colours would be penalised by the UEFA. However, as of the latest updates, Mbappe has reportedly avoided any ban.