Jamal Musiala's Ankle Injury: A Setback for Bayern Munich

Having only recently recovered from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the final month of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga campaign, Jamal Musiala now faces another prolonged spell on the sidelines. In his first start since early April, Musiala suffered a serious ankle injury during Bayern's 2-0 Club World Cup quarter-final defeat by Paris St-Germain.

The Incident

At the end of an entertaining but goalless first half at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Musiala was caught by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma while chasing down an overhit Michael Olise pass near the byeline. The Germany international emerged from the challenge screaming in agony and clutching his left ankle. Several players, including a distraught Donnarumma, had to avert their eyes as the Bayern physios sprinted onto the pitch.

Immediate Reactions

"He has had to go to hospital," Bayern manager Vincent Kompany told DAZN. "It didn't look good. The overwhelming feeling is hopefully it's not as bad as it looks and he gets through this one." Kompany expressed his frustration, stating, "I've rarely been so angry at half-time, not with the players. For these youngsters [like Musiala], it's their life. A guy like Jamal lives for this."

Impact on Bayern Munich

German football expert Raphael Honigstein highlighted the importance of Musiala to Bayern Munich. "The Bayern Munich players were evidently rattled and you could see maybe it took some time, when they came out from half-time, to readjust and find their focus again," he said. "He's a player that is so important to Bayern. It's bad for Bayern and for him to miss what I'm sure will be a few months at the very least."

Support from PSG Players

PSG players also expressed their concern for Musiala. "It's important we talk about Musiala," said PSG and former Dortmund right-back Achraf Hakimi. "I want to give my support to him. We hope to see him back on the pitch soon." Ousmane Dembele, who netted PSG's second goal, also shared his thoughts. "Shout out to Jamal Musiala," he said. "[The injury] is something you don't want to see on the field."

Musiala's Recent Performance

Despite missing 11 games through injury this season, Musiala was still one of Bayern's most influential players in 2024-25, registering 29 goal involvements – 21 goals and eight assists - in 44 competitive appearances. The club recently confirmed he will inherit Bayern's iconic number 10 shirt from the departing Leroy Sane next term, enabling him to follow in the footsteps of club legends Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthaus, and Arjen Robben.

Conclusion

Having scored a hat-trick off the bench in Bayern's 10-0 thrashing of Auckland City in their opening Club World Cup group game, Musiala was hoping to make a significant impact against PSG in Atlanta. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old's evening was cruelly cut short. The football community now waits anxiously for updates on his condition and hopes for a swift recovery.