Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke was left a bloody mess after taking a boot to the head during Monday’s World Cup match between the Netherlands and Morocco.
In the 37th minute, Van Hecke went up to challenge a corner before falling to the pitch. As he lay on the ground, Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui came down and cleated him, resulting in a large gash on the 26-year-old’s crown.
With blood beginning to dampen his blonde hair, Van Hecke dropped into a squat as teammate Virgil van Dijk patted him on the shoulder. Play was momentarily paused as medical staff tended to him before escorting him off to the sideline. Several hours earlier, Liverpool star Cody Gakpo revealed he would be available for the Netherlands' World Cup game just days after his partner announced that she tragically suffered a miscarriage.
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Just five minutes later, however, Van Hecke jogged back onto the field and played the remainder of the first half.
Earlier in the match, Van Hecke was on the receiving end of another hard collision. In the 27th minute, he crumpled to the ground after Azzedine Ounahi caught him with an elbow to the chin in a late aerial challenge.
Though several Dutch players pleaded their case for why Ounahi should receive a card, officials thought otherwise.
Van Hecke also engaged in a brief shoving match with midfielder Ismael Saibari after the two became entangled, though cooler heads ultimately prevailed.
This is hardly the first time that Van Hecke has gotten roughed up at this year's World Cup. During the Netherlands' opening group-stage match against Japan at Dallas Stadium, he suffered a black eye while challenging for the ball.
“My eye hurts. He smashed it. We both went for the ball and he missed it," Van Hecke explained while sporting a massive shiner on his left eye.
“I notice that I am seeing less with one eye now, I hope that my eyesight will recover in the next few days.”
Van Hecke's teammate, Micky van de Ven, provided further details on what transpired adding: “I think he got a kick at the beginning of the game. When he headed the ball away the guy kicked his face. He got a really blue eye and hopefully will recover quickly for the next game. He’s a warrior.”
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Van Hecke's toughness and gritty style of play will be a welcome addition to Tottenham, who completed a $69 million deal to sign him from Brighton earlier this month.
In a video message directed to Spurs supporters, Van Hecke said: “Hello Spurs fans. Jan Paul van Hecke here from Kansas.
“I’m really happy to join the club. It’s a big honor for me and I’m looking forward to playing for Tottenham. For me, it’s a big dream come true and I look forward to seeing you all.
"Micky already told me some great things about the club, about the fans, and about the people inside the club. He already gave me his shirt so that’s really nice. I’m really looking forward to playing my first game for Tottenham."