Kylian Mbappé due for tests on his broken nose as France gets 'positive' news on the striker

DUSSELDORF, Germany (AP) — Kylian Mbappé was due to have tests on his broken nose on Wednesday as France tried to assess what part he could play in the European Championship.

The World Cup winner sustained the injury during his team's 1-0 win against Austria on Monday and will have to wear a face mask if he plays on at the tournament.

“There will be more tests tomorrow to see how things are developing. Obviously it was a big collision," France coach Didier Deschamps said Tuesday. "The medical staff have done what they needed to reduce it as much as possible. This morning he was a bit better, so we will see that and we will follow it closely each day.”

France plays the Netherlands in its second game of Euro 2024 on Friday. It was not known if Mbappé would be able to play after his face collided with the shoulder Austria’s Kevin Danso as he attempted a header late in the Group D match at Dusseldorf Arena.

The French Football Federation said it had received “positive” news about Mbappé’s chances of continuing at the tournament as he will not need immediate surgery. But it did not specify how long it would be before he is able to play again.

“The news is rather reassuring so far as there are no operations planned for the immediate future. As for his participation in the rest of the tournament, it’s a bit too early to give a timetable,” federation president Philippe Diallo said.

Mbappé stayed on the ground after the aerial collision with Danso. His nose was badly swollen and blood poured, turning parts of his white jersey red.

Austria goalkeeper Patrick Pentz signaled for urgent medical assistance.

He was treated by team doctor Franck Le Gall and then went to Dusseldorf hospital.

“They tried to reduce the aftermath of his fracture, for him to be able to stay in the tournament,” Diallo said. “We’ll wait until the end of the day to see how things develop. But all in all, I’d say the information was pretty positive.”

The federation said a mask would be made to allow Mbappé to “consider resuming competition after a period devoted to treatment.”

Mbappé’s injury is a big deal for France, as the country’s captain, its best player and one of the biggest stars of the tournament. It’s a concern for Real Madrid, too, after he left Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent to join the Spanish club in the offseason.

Mbappé is widely regarded as the heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world and led his country to the World Cup title in 2018 at the age of 19.

He became only the second player in history to score a hat trick in a World Cup final four years later in Qatar as France was runner-up to Messi’s Argentina.

Champions League winner Madrid ended its years-long pursuit of Mbappé earlier this month and he will join its roster of superstars, which includes Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham.

France’s priority will be to get him back on the field and leading its bid to win a record-equalling third Euros. Madrid will want him in peak condition for the start of the season and Mbappé already indicated this week that his new club did not want him to take part in the Paris Olympics, where the men’s final is Aug. 9.

If Mbappé is to play on at the Euros, he will need to wear the type of protective face mask worn by Son Heung-min and Josko Gvardiol at the World Cup in 2022.

But the speed of his return will depend on the level of discomfort he feels.

A broken nose can take weeks to heal and the National Health Service in the U.K. says sport should be avoided for “at least six weeks if there’s a chance your face might be hit.”

Mbappe returned to the team’s training camp to join up with the rest of the squad and appeared to see the lighter side of his injury.

“Any ideas for masks?” he posted on X.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

Kylian Mbappe of France receives a treatment after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Kylian Mbappe of France receives a treatment after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Kylian Mbappe of France receives a treatment after suffering an injury during a Group D match between Austria and France at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, June 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Helio Castroneves, at age 50, is still chasing history at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

A win in this year's Indianapolis 500 would give him five in his brilliant IndyCar career and break a tie with A.J. Foyt, Al Unser and Rick Mears for most wins in a race that will be run May 25 for the 109th time.

He's been unsuccessful in his last three tries to win a fifth but hopes this year, his 25th Indy 500, will be the one where he breaks history. Not even his age has discouraged the Brazilian.

“I feel I have a brand new engine,” Castroneves said. “I feel that I’m like ready to go. They say life starts at 50, so I’m ready to start again.”

Castroneves won his fourth Indy 500 driving for Meyer Shank Racing, where he's now part of team management and will drive for them again this year. If he wins, he doesn't plan to walk away from “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

“I’m going to come back and try for six,” Castroneves said. “I want a statue.”

For the record, MSR has not confirmed any races for Castroneves beyond this year's Indy 500. But, the team values his contributions on and off the track, particularly his 500 victory in 2021.

Castroneves had spent 20 years driving for Team Penske, where he won the Indy 500 in 2001, 2002 and 2009. After a move to Penske's sports car program, Castroneves landed a partial ride back in IndyCar with Meyer Shank Racing, and the 500 win grew into two full seasons.

The team fields two full-time cars now for Felix Rosenqvist and Marcus Armstrong, with Castroneves as a third entry at Indianapolis.

“Basically winning that fourth, putting the team on the map and they know that they can do it again, whether it’s me or my two other teammates. They know they can do it,” Castroneves said. “And that’s probably why we keep on pushing. We feel that we’re going to another level as a team.”

Rosenqvist is currently eighth in the IndyCar standings, while Armstrong is 14th. Qualifying has been dramatically improved this year, and the team created a technical alliance with Chip Ganassi Racing that has provided tremendous benefit to MSR. The drivers all debrief together — although Ganassi driver Scott Dixon noted Wednesday that Castroneves, who has a super-sized personality, is atypically quiet in the meetings.

Ganassi drivers have five Indy 500 wins, although Dixon is the only active driver with a victory in the big race. But Alex Palou, his teammate, has opened this season with four wins in five races including last Saturday on the road course at Indy. Palou has won the last two IndyCar titles and three of the last four, and Ganassi has 16 total IndyCar championships.

That alliance has been a massive boost for MSR.

“We have a different partnership now, which really, really helps,” Castroneves said. “I’m noticing the difference and I’m happy we were able to do that. They don’t win races or championships because they’re lucky.”

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

FILE - Helio Castroneves of Brazil, winner of the 2021 Indianapolis 500 auto race, poses during the traditional winner's photo session at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)