Protective mask becomes a common accessory at the World Cup

After Covid-19 face masks have become a staple of everyday life for the past three years, another protective mask is gaining attention at the Qatar World Cup. The accessory is being used more frequently by players recovering from injuries.

This Wednesday (23), in the match between Croatia and Morocco, the Croatian defender Gvardiol entered the field, clashing with the others with the mask. The RB Leipzig player had a nose fracture, which occurred on November 9 in the match against Freiburg, for the German Championship.

In the match between Belgium and Canada, right-back Thomas Meunier wore the mask because of the facial fracture he suffered in his Borussia Dortmund game against Hannover, on October 19. The injury in the malar region even cast doubt on the Belgian’s participation in the World Cup, but coach Roberto Martínez bankrolled his presence, and he went to the field against the Canadians.

Another who had become a doubt for the World Cup in Qatar for the same reason was the Tunisian midfielder Skhiri, from Cologne. He also suffered a fractured cheekbone in the Conference Legue match against Slovakia in October. But he recovered in time to go to the Cup.

This Thursday (24), another one should enter the field with a protective mask. South Korean striker Son Heung-min, from Tottenham, suffered a facial injury on November 1, in the game against Olympique de Marseille, in the Champions League, and since then he has been training with the equipment.

According to Marcos Roberto Tavares, a head and neck surgeon at the Hospital das Clínicas in São Paulo, the mask being used by the players is effective for those who have suffered recent fractures, which is the case of athletes competing in the World Cup.

“When there is no fracture, it doesn’t make much difference. But, when there is a recent fracture, trauma in that place can displace the bone again, it protects”, says the doctor. “Today there are very good materials that are resistant to trauma, as in a ball hit or an elbow hit.”

In general, the masks are made with carbon fiber and rubberized material, which minimizes the impact. In some cases, a mold of the athlete’s face is made, which is then 3D printed. That is, it is a mask suitable for that particular athlete.

According to the English press, Son took three mask models to dispute the World Cup in Qatar.