Why Luca Zidane is wearing a protective mask at the World Cup | OneFootball

Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane is playing the World Cup in a protective face mask after jaw and chin fractures in April. He started against Argentina on Tuesday.

According to L'Équipe, the 28-year-old was injured with Granada in a Liga 2 match against Almeria, which ended his season and raised fears he would miss the tournament.

He now wears a black mask that circles his face, secured by straps at the neck and temples. This comes with his first World Cup appearance, 20 years after his father’s last.

Before flying to the USA, he said he could not miss the World Cup and had pushed himself to return. He felt in excellent shape and believed Algeria could achieve big things, with strong backing from his family and the country.

Fully recovered, Zidane returned in early June in a 1-0 warm-up against the Netherlands, already wearing the mask. He will keep it on throughout the tournament as a precaution.

Source: L'Équipe