​Rewritten:
BEVERLY HILLS, California, July 11 (Reuters) – When soccer players collide in midair, the toll isn’t always counted in concussions, torn ligaments, or twisted ankles. Sometimes it is a broken nose—a burst of blood, a few minutes of treatment on the touchline, perhaps a protective mask, and a swift return to play—that becomes the lasting injury, leaving an athlete struggling to breathe long after the match is over. It is a risk that Dr. Farhad Ardesh, a Beverly Hills facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, says remains one of soccer’s most underestimated injuries. “Sometimes a minor external injury can cause major internal damage,” said Ardesh, who has treated professional athletes, including soccer players. “You might have a nose that looks slightly swollen or crooked on the surface, but the inside of the nose can actually have a zigzag pattern or an S-shaped deformity that really affects this player’s breathing.”
As several players at the 2026 World Cup compete with protective facial masks after jaw or facial injuries, the game’s hidden trauma has become more visible. England’s Djed Spence, Austria’s Stefan Posch, and Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane have all played with facial protection. Other recent high-profile cases include France’s Kylian Mbappé wearing a mask to shield a broken nose at Euro 2024, and Croatian Josko Gvardiol’s protective mask at the 2022 World Cup. To spectators, the mask may seem a badge of toughness; to surgeons like Ardesh, it often signals the lingering effects of trauma. “The face is very fragile after an injury, whether the damage comes from an elbow or from surgery,” he said. “We want to protect the bone.”
Ardesh notes that facial injuries sustained on the soccer pitch can resemble those seen in boxing or mixed martial arts. “People don’t think of soccer as a combat sport,” he said, “but you’ve got elite athletes running at maximum speed, leaping to great heights. When an elbow or a shoulder strikes the nose, it’s almost like taking a right hook to the face.” In his view, the ball itself is rarely the main culprit; more often, injuries arise from blows to the head, shoulders, elbows, knees, feet, or falls. The nose is particularly vulnerable because of its prominence and structure. “The nose is the feature that sticks out the most from our faces,” Ardesh explained. “It’s usually the first part to suffer an impact.”
A nasal fracture can lead to chronic obstruction, a deviated septum, long-term breathing problems, or a visibly crooked nose that may require reconstructive surgery months later if not properly evaluated. For elite athletes, airway flow can directly influence performance. “If patients aren’t getting good airflow through the nose, it can affect endurance, stamina, and overall athletic output,” Ardesh emphasized. He argues that protecting the nose and ensuring proper rehabilitation are essential for athletes who wish to maintain peak performance, particularly when the sports world increasingly recognizes the long-term consequences of facial trauma. The use of protective masks, while sometimes viewed as a sign of vulnerability, may ultimately reflect a proactive approach to safeguarding an athlete’s ability to breathe clearly and perform at the highest level.