What is Penthrox, the inhaler Koné used after his 2026 World Cup injury | OneFootball

As he left the pitch on a stretcher after a serious leg injury in Canada’s 2026 World Cup match against Qatar, Ismaël Koné was seen breathing from a green device, prompting questions about it.

According to Superdeporte, it was Penthrox, an inhaled painkiller whose active ingredient is methoxyflurane. It is used to provide rapid relief of moderate to severe acute pain, especially in traumatic incidents such as fractures, dislocations or major sports injuries.

Unlike many emergency analgesics, it is delivered through a portable inhaler that the patient controls. The user breathes through the device and regulates the dose according to their pain, a key advantage in urgent settings.

Methoxyflurane acts quickly, with pain relief usually felt within minutes. It is not an opioid, a factor in its growing use across emergency services and sports medicine in several countries.

Decades ago it served as a general anaesthetic, but today it is restricted to much lower doses for acute pain. Studies indicate a favourable safety profile under medical supervision at these doses, though it is contraindicated in some patients, particularly with kidney or liver problems.

Koné’s use drew attention because such devices remain little known to the public. Yet Penthrox has long been standard for many ambulance crews, emergency responders and sports medics, valued for ease of use and speed.

In this case, the green whistle helped manage severe pain from an injury that halted the match for several minutes. The scene also underlined a medicine increasingly visible in modern emergency care.

Source: Superdeporte