World Cup 2022: 4 Players Must Wear Masks While Playing

More than just Son Heung-min, three other players—Joško Gvardiol, Ellyes Skhiri and Alireza Beiranvand—will also have to wear masks during matches at the 2022 World Cup.

The masks that have appeared on World Cup pitches in Qatar are not fashion accessories, but rather high-tech equipment designed to protect players' health. Masks are made from polycarbonate, which protects players with facial injuries in order to allow them to return quickly and safely into the game.

1. Son Heung-min (South Korea)

Source: The National

 

During a Champions League match on November 1, South Korean striker Son Heung-min (30 years old) suffered a cracked eye socket.
At the 2022 World Cup, Son wore a black carbon fiber mask that he described as "more comfortable than I thought." - The mask is made of good material," said Son. "It's light and stiff when worn on the face but also impact-resistant—I was surprised by how much lighter it felt compared to my old one!!"

2. Joško Gvardiol (Croatia)

Source: Shutterstock

 
Croatian player Joško Gvardiol (20 years old) also wore a black mask during Croatia's Group F matches against Morocco and Canada at the 2022 World Cup. After colliding with teammate Willi Orban in a match earlier this month, the midfielder had to leave the field. The scan results later revealed that he had a broken nose and minor injuries to his eyes.

3. Alireza Beiranvand (Iran)

Source: EFE

 
Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand (30) wore a mask after suffering facial injuries in his team's opening match against England. He collided with teammate Majid Hosseini during that game. After undergoing surgery to repair his broken nose and mouth, the team doctor expects him to be able to return within a few weeks.

4. Ellyes Skhiri (Tunisia)

Source: Catherine Ivill

 
Ellyes Skhiri (27 years old) wore a mask as he faced Denmark and Australia in Group D matches. The midfielder is undergoing treatment for a broken cheekbone following an injury at the end of October. However, he decided to play through the pain barrier during Algeria's first two group games. On Sunday, Tunisia will play South Korea at Samara Stadium in the second match of Group G.
Masks to protect football players are not new. Some of the latest models, however, are made with 3D printing technology to better fit each player’s face and reduce interference during games. Some masks completely cover a player's face with an opaque material. They can  allows him to see the field but prevents opponents from seeing where he is looking.
The use of protective headgear is a common practice among professional sportsmen, such as boxers and baseball pitchers. As a result, players focus on their peripheral vision when blocking balls from hitting them in order to avoid serious injury or death if hit directly by another player's bat or ball. To know more about World Cup 2022, visit our site daily.