Horror injury to Kylian Mbappe! France superstar appears to BREAK his nose in sickening collision during Euro 2024 win over Austria

With France leading 1-0 against Austria, Mbappe challenged for the ball in the air but his face connected with the shoulder of defender Kevin Danso. As he clutched his nose, it was immediately clear from the blood dripping through his fingers that some serious damage was inflicted. Efforts from medical staff to stop the bleeding with a nose plug were futile. As he stood up and the cameras were able to get a proper look at his face, the player's nose looked totally bent out of shape.

Mbappe had already played a significant role in getting France to that point in the game with a lead. He made possible what proved to be the decisive own goal conceded by Maximilian Wober towards the end of the first half by burning Phillipp Mwene around the outside and firing the ball across the box. The new Real Madrid star ought to have scored one himself when through on goal later on, but somehow managed to miss the the target when attempting to curl the ball into the far corner.

Mbappe was shown a yellow card for the drama that unfolded after he left the pitch for treatment to his nose. France were waiting to send Olivier Giroud and Youssouf Fofana on, but the referee seemed to ignore the players waiting at the side of the pitch. So Mbappe took the law into his own hands and went back on without permission, immediately sitting on the floor in order to stop the game while his team were having to defend a 1-0 lead with only 10 players.

Even with a riduculous depth of talent in the squad, France's hopes of Euro 2024 glory ultimately still rest on Mbappe's shoulders. Didier Deschamps and an entire nation back home will be praying the damage isn't serious enough to rule him out of the upcoming group games against Netherlands and Poland, although playing in a protective mask from now until the tournament's conclusion almost seems a given.