Hungary forward Barnabas Varga suffered a fractured cheekbone after a horror collision with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Varga had to be stretchered off and was taken straight to hospital after receiving five minutes of treatment on the pitch during Sunday night’s Euro 2024 clash in Stuttgart, which Hungary won in dramatic fashion.
The injury, which sparked serious concern at the time, means Varga will undergo an operation and will play no further part in the tournament.
Varga and Gunn clashed in the second half as a free-kick was swung into the Scotland box, with Gunn punching the ball away and making contact with Varga.
Both stars were left on the floor as a result, but Varga appeared to be unconscious with Hungary players immediately signalling for assistance.
Hungary, led by captain Dominik Szoboszlai, were unhappy that a stretcher took a while to come on and grabbed it to help get to their teammate quicker.
The game was then paused for more than five minutes while Varga received treatment on the pitch by medical experts.
His teammates – who were all visibly shaken and concerned by the incident – made a wall around him as he was seen to.
There was a huge round of applause from everyone in the stadium in Stuttgart as Varga was lifted up and stretchered away.
Liverpool star and Hungary captain Szoboszlai was in tears as his teammate was taken off.
Martin Adam then came on to replace Varga, who was immediately taken to hospital.
The Hungarian Football Federation said after the match that he was conscious when he left the pitch and in a stable condition in hospital.
And Hungary manager Marco Rossi later confirmed the player had been diagnosed with a fractured cheekbone.
Rossi said: “I’m not sure if it was a collision with the goalkeeper, it was a confused situation, that’s why the VAR was checking. The players were saying he looked unconscious so everyone was really worried about his condition and worried about the fact that the doctors arrived late, we can say, but they probably didn’t realise it was a dangerous situation.
“Thankfully he is not under risk, he will be operated on here (points to cheek). He’s healthy, and that’s the most important thing. If we go through, he is no longer part of the team.”
The incident resulted in ten minutes of injury time being played, with Hungary going on to seal a 1-0 victory in the final seconds.
Both Scotland and Hungary had needed to find a win to keep their Euro 2024 hopes alive.
A draw wouldn’t have been enough for Hungary to stay in the competition.
Meanwhile, a stalemate would have meant Scotland would depend on other results going their way to get through to the knockout stages in third place.
But it was Hungary that stole all three points at the death as Kevin Csoboth rose to be the hero in the 10th minute of added time.
A poor Scotland corner saw the Hungarians win the ball on the edge of their opponent’s area, with the ball then played to Roland Sallai.
He stormed to the byline, playing a cross into the box that Csoboth – who came on just after Varba’s departure – slotted beyond Gunn to win 1-0 and break Scotland hearts.
He held up Varga’s shirt as he celebrated his match-winning goal, while other Hungary stars also paid tribute to their stricken teammate after the match.
Hungary finish Group A in third and have a strong chance of going through as one of the four best third-placed teams.
Scotland, meanwhile, finish bottom as their wait to reach a last 16 place in a major tournament goes on.
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