Russia’s goalkeeper coach, Vitaly Kafanov, revealed that Paris Saint-Germain and national team goalie Matvey Safonov chipped a bone fragment on his arm while stopping a penalty kick during the Intercontinental Cup match against Flamengo. The specialist shared this news on December 20th in a comment to “Match TV.”
“I spoke with Matvey. Regrettably, it was confirmed that he has a fracture. In the sense that a small piece of bone broke off his arm. This happened during the moment of the third penalty kick taken, after which he saved two more. It can be stated that Matvey will miss three to four weeks and then resume full preparation,” Russia’s goalkeeper coach Vitaly Kafanov told “Match TV.”
Before this, the press service of PSG had reported that the 25-year-old keeper was diagnosed with a left arm fracture, with estimated recovery time being up to four weeks. The club stated that the player would soon undergo treatment under the supervision of the Parisians’ medical staff. The encounter with Flamengo concluded with a victory for the French side in the penalty shootout; Safonov saved four consecutive shots and was named the match’s best player. The Russian national team hopes the goalie will recover in time for the next national team training camp in 2026.
It was precisely in this Intercontinental Cup match against Flamengo, where Safonov sustained the injury, that his performance in the penalty shootout brought the trophy to PSG. The Russian goalkeeper became the first in the history of FIFA-sanctioned tournaments to repel four consecutive penalties, earning him a cover feature in the French newspaper L’Equipe holding the cup.
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