Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a horrific injury in his side’s Club World Cup semi-final loss to Paris Saint-Germain. The 22-year-old playmaker sustained a broken leg and a dislocated ankle following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the first half of Saturday’s match.
The incident occurred near the byline as Musiala sprinted in pursuit of a loose ball. Donnarumma, attempting to clear the danger, clattered into the young German, who immediately screamed in pain and clutched his left ankle. The game was halted for several minutes while medical staff attended to Musiala, who eventually left the field on a stretcher with his face buried in his shirt, clearly devastated.
Bayern Munich have since confirmed the extent of Musiala’s injuries and announced that he has returned to Munich to undergo surgery. The club’s sporting director, Max Eberl, described the injury as a “real shock” for both the team and supporters.
“This serious injury and the long absence are a real shock for Jamal and all of us,” Eberl said in a club statement. “This hits FC Bayern hard. Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game and what a central role he plays for our team.”
Eberl also spoke to the emotional toll the injury has had on the player, who had only recently returned from another injury spell.
“The human impact is incredibly bitter,” he continued. “We all feel for him. Jamal has just recovered and now faces another long layoff. He will get everything he needs from us — all our support and care — and we are already looking forward to seeing him back on the pitch.”
The injury deeply affected Musiala’s teammates, several of whom looked visibly shaken as the midfielder received treatment on the field. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was among those who expressed frustration, calling Donnarumma’s challenge “risky” and questioning his lack of immediate remorse.
“You just accept that your opponent might get injured. It could even be a team-mate,” Neuer said in a post-match interview. “So I went over to him and said: ‘Don’t you want to go over there? Jamal is lying there, seriously injured, and I think it’s only right to go over and wish him well.’”
Neuer added that Donnarumma eventually approached Musiala after being prompted, emphasizing that respect and sportsmanship are critical in such moments.
In response, Donnarumma later posted a message on social media expressing his sympathy: “All my prayers and well wishes are with you, Jamal.”
The Italian keeper’s challenge and subsequent actions have sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, with some defending him for what appeared to be an unfortunate accident in the heat of the moment, while others echoed Neuer’s sentiments about sportsmanship and responsibility.
Musiala had been in superb form heading into the tournament, having scored a hat-trick in Bayern’s opening match against Auckland City. His injury not only robs the team of one of its most creative outlets but also puts his participation in the remainder of the season — and potentially Euro 2026 — in doubt.
Bayern Munich now face the difficult task of progressing in the Club World Cup and continuing their season without one of their brightest stars. For now, the footballing world unites in sending strength and well wishes to Jamal Musiala as he begins another painful road to recovery.
