Bayern Munich`s promising 22-year-old midfielder, Jamal Musiala, sustained a severe leg injury towards the end of the first half during his team`s 2-0 defeat to PSG in the Club World Cup quarterfinal in Atlanta on Saturday. The German international, recognized for his exceptional technical skill, was challenging for a loose ball in the penalty area simultaneously as PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma moved to collect it. As the Italian keeper dove for the ball, he landed on Musiala`s left leg. Disturbingly, after the collision, Musiala`s left ankle was visibly displaced.
Bayern players immediately signaled for the game to stop so Musiala could receive urgent medical attention. His teammates gathered around him, many reacting with shock at the clear severity of the injury. The referee promptly called for a stretcher as the teams headed to the tunnel for halftime, allowing medical staff to treat Musiala on the pitch.
Musiala was subsequently transported to the hospital for further assessment.
“For me, this isn`t a result of constant playing,” Bayern sporting director Max Eberl commented after the match, according to ESPN. “It is more of an accident, it happened, and this is obviously bad for us.”
“It didn`t look good,” stated Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany. “If I`m just watching the images, it looked like an ankle injury of some kind, but I`m not going to make a diagnosis here.”
On Monday, Bayern confirmed the extent of the injury, announcing that their attacker had suffered a broken fibula.
PSG ultimately secured the winning goal in the 78th minute through a low strike from Desire Doue. However, their path to victory was complicated by disciplinary issues. PSG received two red cards, with Willian Pacho dismissed for a bad tackle and Lucas Hernandez sent off for an elbow to the face. Despite having a two-man advantage, Bayern was unable to find an equalizer, and Ousmane Dembele sealed PSG`s 2-0 win in the sixth minute of added time.
With this victory, PSG advances to face Real Madrid in the semifinals next week.
Musiala was named the Germany national team player of the year in the previous year. He made his debut for Bayern at just 17 and became the youngest teenager to represent Germany at a World Cup since 1958. He is widely regarded as a future global football star.
