World Cup: Why are some players wearing black masks?

-also black masks Used by some players in matches. World Cup 2022 attracted the attention of the public who wondered about its real benefits. While the accessory is in the spotlight due to memes on social networks, comparisons of which range from Zorro to the Grindr logo (a dating app for gay men), Football and other sports hi-tech protection element🇧🇷

before protective masks While being taken to the pitches, it was common for an athlete with a face injury to stay away until fully recovered. As it’s the biggest football championship to bring together the big names in every election, a deficiency can drain teams and jeopardize progress in the competition.

Masks at the World Cup: protection for players and national teams

Therefore, the main idea of ​​the orthopedic accessory is to reduce or avoid the time off from the grass in order to keep an athlete with a facial injury on the field. It also aims to provide more security so as not to aggravate the damage and affect the yield. also Trainspecial equipment was seen on the faces of many players, such as Son Heung-min (South Korea) and Joško Gvardiol (Croatia). Brazilian election🇧🇷

They are specially produced from various materials such as acrylic, propylene, polyurethane, rubber, resin, carbon fiber and polycarbonate, which offer lightness, high resistance and thermal comfort. Their designs and executions are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, even with 3D printing to precisely match the contours of each actor’s face.

For example, South Korean Son Heung-min, who is considered one of the biggest stars of this election, broke his eye socket in a Champions League match in early November. The Tottenham Hotspur star had to undergo surgery that put even his Cup squad at risk.

However, he was declared eligible to play in all matches as long as he wore the mask made of carbon fiber. Thus, the element of protection was present in their first game against Uruguay, beating Ghana and Portugal in the group stage until their game against Brazil in the round of 16.

The black mask was also used as a cover by Croatian Joško Gvardiol in Group F matches against Morocco and Canada. This was because the team player who was the practitioner of the “Canarinho Selection” was in the process of recovering from an injury to his nose, in addition to minor injuries to his face and eyes.

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— PAN (@forumpandlr) December 9, 2022

Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand is another example of someone who had to resort to orthopedic medication to continue the match against England after colliding with a teammate in a fatal 6-2 loss.

The mask was also used in matches against Thomas Meunier in Belgium and in Tunisia, worn by Ellyes Skhiri after breaking his cheekbone in late October. Although accessories have gained more importance in this area, World Cupit’s not a novelty, it’s relatively common in football.

In the early 2000s, news of the use of masks was already circulating in the Brazilian championships to protect athletes from greater damage. Even the 3D printing method was cited as a pioneering technology in Brazil.

As such, specialized equipment has undergone a number of improvements in techniques and materials over the years as a way to maintain the performance of athletes with some type of injury in-game and without depleting teams.