Musiala Suffers Serious Leg Injury in Club World Cup Quarterfinal

Injury Incident and Immediate Response

Jamal Musiala is stretchered off after sustaining a left-leg injury in Bayern Munich’s Club World Cup quarterfinal against PSG. Bayern Munich’s match against Paris Saint-Germain in Atlanta was overshadowed by a horrific injury to star midfielder Jamal Musiala. The 22-year-old was hurt late in the first half of the quarterfinal, collapsing in pain after a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during a 50-50 challenge near the corner flag. Musiala’s left ankle appeared to twist awkwardly under Donnarumma’s body, and he immediately required lengthy on-field treatment. With the referee calling time for halftime as Musiala lay injured, he was eventually stretchered off the pitch and rushed to a local hospital for scans. (PSG went on to win the match 2-0, but the result was scarcely noticed amid concerns for Musiala.)

Team and Coach Reactions

Bayern officials and teammates were visibly shaken by the incident. Coach Vincent Kompany said simply, “It didn’t look good,” when asked about the injury on the sideline. Sporting director Max Eberl called the collision a freak accident and lamented the club’s loss: “For me, this isn’t a result of constant playing… it happened and this is obviously bad for us,” he said after the game. Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – who watched helplessly as Musiala suffered – later criticized Donnarumma’s challenge, calling it “risky” for an opponent’s safety.

Musiala’s teammates rallied around him. Thomas Müller – who later came on as a substitute for Musiala – noted that Musiala “has really had a tough few months” dealing with injuries, and added “we all keep our fingers crossed” for his recovery. Players from PSG also expressed concern. PSG midfielder Désiré Doué, who scored one goal in the match, said “we told him he has our support… now we want everything to go well for Jamal in his rehabilitation”. Defender Achraf Hakimi similarly sent a message of solidarity: “We want to see him back on the pitch soon because he’s a great player,” he said.

Recovery Outlook and Impact on Future Matches

Early medical reports suggest the injury is very serious. German tabloid Bild (reported via Bulinews) states that Musiala suffered a fractured fibula and damage to ligaments in his left leg, projecting a layoff of around four to five months. This prognosis would sideline him for the remainder of Bayern’s 2024–25 campaign and likely into the start of next season. Bayern coach Kompany remained hopeful in comments from Musiala’s hospital bedside, saying, “He’s a player that loves football – it’s his life. It will hit hard, but he’s going to get through it and come back stronger. Hopefully, he’ll be there to lift trophies with Bayern next season”.

Bayern officials are already preparing for life without their key playmaker. The club conceded that Musiala will miss coming fixtures. “Bayern might have to start next season without Musiala,” an ESPN report noted of the team’s prognosis. Eberl acknowledged that the squad will need to cope in his absence: “I don’t know [ideas to replace him] now,” he said, before adding that Bayern “will do our job in the future”. Musiala’s rehabilitation will likely keep him off the field through the summer and early autumn; he will almost certainly miss any remaining club competitions this season and may only return once Bayern’s 2025–26 season is underway.