Why does Gianluigi Donnarumma have a scar on his face? Horror injury in Ligue 1 play doesn't draw yellow card

Kyle Bonn

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Why does Gianluigi Donnarumma have a scar on his face? Horror injury in Ligue 1 play doesn't draw yellow card image

Gianluigi Donnarumma has been exceptional this season in the Champions League, leading PSG to a strong position in the semifinals where they meet Arsenal.

Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed a gnarly scar on the Italian's right cheek, which seems to be more fitting of a James Bond villain.

Indeed, that mark was earned earlier this season when he suffered a truly horrific facial injury, which astonishingly didn't even draw a yellow card for the opponent.

Donnarumma was substituted off in the 22nd minute of PSG's mid-December Ligue 1 match against Monaco after being cleated straight in the face.

Charging in from the right flank on the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat, Monaco full-back Wilfried Singo attempted to poke the ball past Donnarumma. As the PSG goalkeeper closed the gap, Singo ran out of room, and the follow-through from his effort saw him land his boot directly onto the face of Donnarumma.

Donnarumma received lengthy treatment on the pitch before being forced to exit the match, replaced by backup Matvey Safonov. On-field images appeared to show that Donnarumma's on-pitch treatment included the Italian receiving staples to close the wound temporarily before even being brought off.

By halftime, an image had already been shared by RMC Sport reporter Arthur Perrot of Donnarumma's injury, which showed the damage done from the locker room.

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Somehow, incredibly, Singo did not receive a yellow card for the foul despite the gruesome contact. It would have been a key moment in the game had the referee decided to book the Monaco defender, as he had already picked up a yellow card in the 13th minute of the match, meaning he would have been sent off regardless of whether the decision had been a second yellow or straight red.

PSG would receive another scare later as Safonov's arm was stamped on by Lamine Camara, which clearly rips the replacement goalkeeper's greens sleeve he's wearing. Just like the earlier incident, Camara was on a yellow card at the time but was not booked a second time.

With Donnarumma out injured and PSG's opponents still with 11 players on the pitch, Monaco would score twice shortly after halftime to take a 2-1 lead, but PSG managed a late comeback as Goncalo Ramos and Ousmane Dembele combined for three goals to secure a 4-2 win.

The injury could have been a major blow to PSG depending on how much time Donnarumma is forced to miss. The Parisian club is in a dire position near the bottom of the Champions League standings, with the Italian one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak European campaign. His absence would have sent their chances of sneaking into a knockout qualifying position plummeting even further.

However, his absence was quite short-lived, as he only missed their Coupe de France opener against Lens on December 22, which led straight into PSG's winter break. Donnarumma would be fit to return on January 12 for a 2-1 win over Saint-Etienne in Ligue 1 action, and he would prove vital to both the club's Ligue 1 romp and their deep Champions League run.

Kyle Bonn

Kyle Bonn is a Syracuse University broadcast journalism graduate with over a decade of experience covering soccer globally. Kyle specializes in soccer tactics and betting, with a degree in data analytics. Kyle also does TV broadcasts for Wake Forest soccer, and has had previous stops with NBC Soccer and IMG College. When not covering the game, he has long enjoyed loyalty to the New York Giants, Yankees, and Fulham. Kyle enjoys playing racquetball and video games when not watching or covering sports.