Kylian Mbappe Suffers Broken Nose in Euro 2024 Opener, Faces Uncertain Future in Tournament.

By Caroline Ameh

Kylian Mbappe endured a challenging night during France’s Euro 2024 debut on Monday, sustaining a broken nose in their 1-0 victory over Austria, which casts doubt over his availability for upcoming matches.

The French Football Federation confirmed that Mbappe, their captain, will not require immediate surgery but will undergo treatment in the coming days.

The 25-year-old forward collided with Austria’s Kevin Danso during an aerial challenge, resulting in his injury. Despite efforts to continue playing, Mbappe was forced off the field and subsequently taken to a hospital in Dusseldorf, where the extent of his injury was confirmed.

“He has returned to the base camp of the French team,” the FFF stated. “His recovery process will proceed without immediate surgical intervention.”

During the match, France attempted to substitute Mbappe with Olivier Giroud following the injury, but play resumed before the change could be made. Mbappe re-entered the field without authorization, resulting in a yellow card.

In a post-match press conference, French manager Didier Deschamps expressed concern over Mbappe’s condition, acknowledging the severity of the injury. “His nose got badly hit,” Deschamps commented. “We need to assess the situation, but it looks quite complicated, which is unfortunate for us. He didn’t escape lightly.”

Mbappe, who has scored 47 goals in 80 appearances for France, played a pivotal role in their victory, contributing to the only goal as his cross led to an own goal by Austria’s Max Wober. His absence could significantly impact France’s prospects in the tournament as they aim for their third European title.

The forward, who is set to join Real Madrid from Paris St-Germain this summer, has yet to score a goal in the Euros to add to his 12 strikes in World Cup competitions. With doubts looming over his availability for their next match against the Netherlands on Friday, Deschamps emphasized Mbappe’s importance to the team’s strength.

“I’m not speculating, but the French team is undoubtedly stronger with Kylian,” Deschamps affirmed. “If circumstances dictate otherwise, we will face the challenge without him.”