Mbappe avoids surgery on broken nose, will need face mask to play

Kylian Mbappe broke his nose during France's 1-0 victory over Austria in the team's opening Euro 2024 match but won't require surgery, the French Football Federation (FFF) said Monday in a statement issued via the French press.

"A mask will be constructed in order to enable the French team's No. 10 to consider resuming competition after a period of treatment," the statement added, as translated by CBS Sports.

It was widely reported that the star forward would need an operation, but the team's medical staff determined that wasn't immediately necessary after additional tests at a hospital in Dusseldorf.

Mbappe will miss France's next match against the Netherlands on Friday, sources told Julien Laurens of ESPN. Despite his eagerness to return, France reportedly doesn't want to take any risks and will instead target the June 25 contest against Poland if qualification for the last 16 is still in the balance.

Mbappe was injured when he collided with Austrian defender Kevin Danso's shoulder after a header in the latter stages of Monday's win. He left the match in the 90th minute as blood poured profusely from his nose.

His white shirt streaked with red, the recent Real Madrid signing received treatment from France's medical staff after Austrian goalkeeper Patrick Pentz alerted the referee to halt play with Mbappe prone in the penalty area following the accidental collision with Danso.

The 25-year-old, holding his nose, then re-entered the pitch without the referee's permission and immediately fell to the ground in an apparent time-wasting effort, prompting Jesus Gil Manzano to show him a yellow card.

He was then substituted.

Mbappe posted on X after his facial injury, asking for "ideas for masks."

Danso wished Mbappe a speedy recovery Tuesday.

"I wish him a good recovery, and I hope he can quickly get back on the pitch," the Austrian defender wrote on social media. "To French supporters: I am sorry that Kylian Mbappe was injured from our duel."

Prior to the incident, Mbappe created the lone goal of the contest in Dusseldorf, beating his defender with a lightning-quick drop of the shoulder and whipping in a cross that Maximilian Wober inadvertently redirected into his own net.

Manager Didier Deschamps called the injury "the black mark of the evening for us," according to Agence France-Presse.

"I have always said that the France team will be stronger with Kylian in it," Deschamps said when asked about his captain's status for the upcoming match against the Dutch. "If we find out that he won't be there, we will fight on without him. Kylian is Kylian and any team is stronger with him in it."

Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders said his team is preparing for Friday's key Group D encounter as if Mbappe will be available.

"I think he'll be fine," the AC Milan midfielder said, according to Agence France-Presse. "I think we'll see him later on with a mask. Mbappe is a great footballer and you have to deal with injuries as a player."