Austria striker Guido Burgstaller sustained a fractured skull after being attacked in the heart of Vienna, according to his club, Rapid Vienna.
The club confirmed that the 35-year-old forward, who is expected to be sidelined for several months due to the “serious head injury,” was assaulted over the weekend.
They stated that Burgstaller was struck by an “unknown man,” causing him to fall and fracture his skull from a “brutal blow.”
The former Cardiff City player, who has earned 26 caps for Austria, was assessed at the scene before being transported to the hospital, where he will stay for the next few days.
In a statement, Rapid said they “trust in the responsible authorities that the as-yet-unknown perpetrator will be brought to justice quickly”.
Burgstaller joined Cardiff from Rapid in 2014, becoming Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing for the Welsh club.
Burgstaller made only three appearances for Cardiff City before moving to German club Nurnberg.
He also had stints in Germany with Schalke and St Pauli before rejoining Rapid Vienna in 2022.
In 2023, he was one of three Austria players dropped by manager Ralf Rangnick after they were filmed singing homophobic chants following a 3-0 victory over city rivals Austria Vienna.