PSG Intercontinental Cup shootout hero Safonov sidelined with hand fracture

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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Intercontinental Cup - Final - Paris St Germain v Flamengo - Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al-Rayyan, Qatar - December 17, 2025 Paris St Germains Matvey Safonov during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

Dec 19 - Paris St Germain goalkeeper Matvey Safonov fractured his hand during the Intercontinental Cup final shootout, the French club said on Friday, with coach Luis Enrique at a loss to explain how the ‍Russian ​kept on playing.

Safonov saved four penalties in the shootout to ‍hand the European champions the Intercontinental Cup title after a 1-1 draw with Flamengo in the final on Wednesday.

But ​PSG ​revealed the 26-year-old suffered a left-hand fracture and will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, ensuring he will miss Saturdays French Cup game against Vendee Fontenay before the winter break.

I cant ‍explain it, its unbelievable but the player doesnt know how it happened. We think it was ​on the third penalty kick that he ⁠made a strange movement. He has a fracture, Luis Enrique told reporters.

With the adrenaline, he must have finished the (shootout) despite the fracture. Its incredible how all the players, including Safonov, have the ability to help the team, to ​always be ready to help the team. Thats the mentality we want. You have to be ready to help ‌the team and work all the time.

Luis ​Enrique said he