In Munich, Kylian Mbappé played without his nose mask, but the spotlight was stolen by 16-year-old Lamine Yamal as France lost 2-1 to Spain in the European Championship semifinals. Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in European Championship history and is set to play in the Euro 2024 final the day after his 17th birthday, whereas Mbappé will begin his holiday before joining Real Madrid.
Mbappé expressed disappointment at not achieving his goal of becoming European champion, acknowledging that he did not have a good performance during the Euros. Despite initially being told he might need to wear the mask for weeks or even months, Mbappé made the decision to play without it in the match.
Leading up to the semifinal, Euro 2024 had been challenging for Mbappé and France, with the team struggling to score goals from open play. Mbappé himself had numerous attempts at goal but failed to score, recalling his mask-wearing experience as “an absolute horror.”
Although Mbappé assisted in France’s early goal with a well-placed cross, he missed a crucial chance to score late in the game, sending his shot over the bar and expressing disappointment at not hitting the target. Despite the setback, he acknowledged the reality of football’s harshness.
As Mbappé looks forward to a break and preparation for a new season with Real Madrid, his experience in Euro 2024, including the decision to play without the mask, will surely be a topic of reflection and analysis.
