Face Masks—Should More Soccer Players Wear Them?

Image Source: CNN

Face masks are becoming a more frequent sight on soccer pitches. Of course,  high-profile examples like Son Heung-Min or Josko Gvardiol in the 2022 World Cup, and Kylian Mbappé at a Euro 2024 qualifier have brought facial injuries into focus. 

But famous cases aside, stats show that soccer is way more notorious for facial injuries than most realize. One study found that up to 75% of sport-related facial fractures occur in soccer alone.  

So, should more players wear protective face masks? This article dives into the pros and cons of wearing them and that implications of bringing them on the pitch.

Protection from Re-injury

The number one reason soccer players wear face masks is to protect themselves from further injury. After a facial injury, you want to get back on the pitch, but the risk of making the injury worse is real. 

That’s where the mask comes in. 

It acts like a shield, protecting your face from more damage during aerial duels or ball impact. The best part? These masks are custom-made to fit your face, meaning they distribute force evenly, reducing the chance of a direct hit to a vulnerable spot.

Facilitating Healing and Early Return

We get it—when you're injured, all you want to do is get back into action. Face masks help make that happen. By giving your facial injury time to heal while still allowing you to play, masks can speed up your return to the field. You won’t be stuck watching from the sidelines for as long. 

Plus, staying in the game helps with mental sharpness and fitness, meaning you're not losing progress. For key players or during an important part of the season, getting back to the team earlier can make all the difference.

Psychological Benefits

Wearing a face mask isn’t just about physical protection—it also helps mentally. Knowing your face is protected can give you the confidence to go into tackles or challenge for headers without hesitation. It’s like having a safety net, allowing you to focus on playing your game rather than worrying about your injury. 

For some, the mask even becomes a badge of toughness, showing they’ve come back stronger from adversity. Whether it's boosting confidence or becoming a symbol of resilience, these masks offer more than just protection.

Potential Performance Impact

While the protection sounds great, masks aren't perfect. If it doesn’t fit right, you could end up with discomfort, skin irritation, or even problems with breathing or vision. These might seem small, but when you’re making split-second decisions on the field, any minor distraction can be costly. 

Image Source: CNN

Some players find that their peripheral vision is reduced, and that could impact spatial awareness—a crucial skill needed in soccer. Add in communication issues if the mask muffles your voice, and it’s clear that getting the right fit is essential.

Regulatory Compliance

It's not as simple as just deciding to wear a mask—there are rules. Professional leagues have regulations about what kind of protective gear is allowed, and face masks fall under those. Some leagues are stricter than others, meaning there might be a lot of red tape before you can wear one in official games. 

Fairness is also a concern. If a mask provides an advantage, like better protection or confidence, should everyone wear them? It’s a tricky balance between player safety and maintaining fairness in competition.

Cost and Accessibility

Here’s the deal: custom-made face masks aren’t cheap. They’re designed with high-end materials and created specifically for each player’s face, so the cost adds up. For elite athletes, this might not be an issue, but for lower-tier players or youth leagues, access to these masks could be limited. 

Plus, it takes time to design and manufacture a custom mask—time that an injured player may not have. The high cost and time investment make it a challenge for everyone to use them, especially at lower levels of the game.

The Verdict on Soccer Face Masks

Face masks are valuable tools for protecting players from further injury, but they aren’t without their downsides. Whether it’s the cost, regulations, or potential performance impact, there are several factors to weigh before deciding if masks should be widely used. As player safety continues to be a priority and technology improves, we might see more masks on the pitch. But for now, they remain a situational solution rather than a universal one.

Here at Storelli, we have yet to make a face mask. But although we’re not (yet) in the game of making facial protection, we’re definitely sticklers for injury prevention. So if you want to prevent a secondary facial injury, then by all means, wear a face mask if you’re willing and able. It doesn’t hurt—but broken nose does.