Kylian Mbappe sustained a broken nose during France’s opening Euro 2024 match against Austria. The injury occurred late in the second half when Mbappe went up for a header and accidentally collided with Kevin Danso’s shoulder. The France captain, 25, immediately fell to the ground, bleeding profusely from his nose.
Mbappe’s white shirt turned red with blood as medical staff swarmed him. After treatment on the sidelines, Mbappe returned to the pitch without permission, leading to a booking from the referee. BBC Radio 5 Live’s Matt Upson remarked, “Kylian Mbappe has gone back on the pitch without permission – the referee is going to book him and rightly so. 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.”
Olivier Giroud eventually replaced Mbappe, and France held on to secure a 1-0 victory. Following the match, medical staff took Mbappe to a hospital in Dusseldorf for further evaluation.
France manager Didier Deschamps commented post-match, “He’s not doing well. He’s with the medical staff. He took a bad hit to the nose. We need to check it out, but it seems quite complicated. Which is very unfortunate for us tonight.” When asked about Mbappe’s potential 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.”
By 1 a.m. local time, Mbappe was in better spirits and posted on social media, asking for “Any ideas for masks,” indicating that surgery would not be necessary. The French Football Federation confirmed his broken nose and announced, “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.”
Despite his injury, Mbappe played a crucial role in France’s lone goal of the match, setting up the cross that led to Max Wober’s own goal in the first half. Appointed captain by Didier Deschamps before the tournament. Mbappe led from the front as France started their Euro 2024 campaign with a narrow win.
France, one of the tournament favorites, took the lead when Wober headed in Mbappe’s cross. Les Bleus pressed for a second goal in the second half, with Antoine Griezmann and Jules Kounde coming close, while Mbappe missed a one-on-one chance. Austria’s best opportunity came when Mike Maignan saved Christoph Baumgartner’s effort, and N’Golo Kante thwarted a dangerous counter-attack.
Griezmann also had a rough night, sustaining a gash to his forehead after Wober pushed him into the advertising hoardings. Despite the injuries, France’s resilient performance ensured a victorious start to their Euro 2024 campaign.
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