FACT-CHECK: Has Mbappe started wearing a black face mask?

Claim: Viral picture on social media shows football superstar Kylian Mbappé in a black face mask.

Verdict: False.

Full Text: Picture of French professional footballer Kylian Mbappé in a black face mask has gone viral on social media platforms X, Facebook and Thread.

The picture surfaced online after the French Football Federation (FFF) said it was sourcing a tailor-made mask for Mbappé, after the footballer sustained a broken nose in a match with Austria on Monday in the ongoing Euro 2024 competition.

A single picture of the footballer in a black face mask and French national team jersey has since been circulating on social media.

Verification:

Upon critical examination, the image shows the football player on a pitch. But Mbappé has not made any match appearance since the injury.

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Further checks reveal that latest news reports on local and international sports websites did not feature the image of the footballer in a face mask.

Also, utilising Google Reverse Image Search, we found out that the image in its original format is not available online, an indication that the image was likely taken, by a fan, in the last match, or it was manipulated.

According to reports, France will continue to monitor Mbappé’s condition over the next 48 hours.

Ripples Nigeria reports that the football player sought ‘ideas for masks’ on his X handle a day after the injury (June 18, the same day his image with a face surfaced online).

Des idées de masques 🎭😅 ?

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) June 17, 2024

Conclusion:

The image of Mbappé in a black mask has been manipulated as the French football player is yet to make an appearance for a match after sustaining a broken nose.

By: Quadri Yahya

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