Kylian Mbappe’s mask is made from specialized carbon fiber, commonly used in the aerospace industry.
In the first match of EURO 2024, Kylian Mbappe suffered a broken nose after a collision with Kevin Danso. The captain of Les Bleus decided against surgery and opted to wear a protective face mask.
Specialized mask to protect players.
The Special Mask
According to AS, these types of masks are made from thermoplastic or carbon fiber. Among these, carbon fiber is a more advanced and costly material. A mask from Ortopedia Juan Bravo (Madrid) costs 1,200 Euros (approximately 32 million VND).
Pedro Muñoz, director of Ortopedia Juan Bravo, shared that carbon fiber is a specialized material in the aerospace industry. NASA uses this material to manufacture parts of rockets.
The principle of the mask’s operation is quite simple. They are positioned over the hard bone areas of the cheek, eye sockets, and forehead. The injured area is covered by the carbon material, minimizing the impact from collisions.
Before designing, manufacturers need to accurately scan the player’s face on a computer. No two masks are identical. The company Ortopedia Juan Bravo can produce a mask in as little as 24 hours.
Mask designed based on the player’s face.
Mbappe Cannot Wear the Mask with the French Flag
On the evening of June 20, the French national team practiced at Red Bull Arena, where they will face the Netherlands in the second match of Group D at EURO 2024.
The captain of the French team wore the mask and trained for about 15 minutes in front of the media.
The mask worn by Mbappe features three primary colors: blue, white, and red, resembling the colors of the French flag. It is adorned with the symbol of the Gallic rooster, the letters “KM” (for Kylian Mbappe), and the number 10 – Mbappe’s jersey number on the national team.
Close-up of Kylian Mbappe’s mask.
However, he will not be able to wear this colorful accessory in the match against the Netherlands. According to regulations, UEFA allows players to wear protective face masks, but they must be a single color.
