Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala sidelined for months by horror injury

The German giants revealed that the 22-year-old suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle after a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma just before half-time on Saturday.

The incident, which occurred at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, left players from both teams visibly shaken. Musiala, in agony, was stretchered off the pitch with his shirt pulled over his face, while Donnarumma appeared distraught, later posting on social media, "All my prayers and well wishes are with you @jamalmusiala10". Bayern's medical team rushed to treat the young star, and referee Anthony Taylor ended the first half early due to the severity of the situation.

Bayern's official statement confirmed that Musiala had already left Orlando and returned to Munich for surgery on Sunday. The club described the injury as a "fracture of the fibula associated with a broken and dislocated ankle," with recovery expected to take at least four to five months, potentially ruling him out until November or December 2025. Some reports on X suggest the recovery could extend to six or seven months if complications arise, particularly given the complexity of long bone injuries.

Max Eberl, Bayern's sporting director, expressed the club's devastation, saying, "This serious injury and the lengthy lay-off are a real shock for Jamal and all of us. Everyone knows how immensely important Jamal is for our game, what a central role he plays in our team. There's also a huge human impact, and we all feel for him. He's just come back from an injury and will now be out for another long period."

Eberl added, "He will get everything he needs from us. We will support him intensively, be by his side, and we already look forward to when he's back on the pitch."

The injury marks another setback for Musiala, who had only recently returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final two months of the 2024/25 season, including Bayern's Champions League quarter-final loss to Inter. Before the injury, Musiala had been in scintillating form at the Club World Cup, scoring three goals in the tournament, just one shy of the Golden Boot leaders.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany shared his frustration, stating, "The serious injury suffered by Jamal had my blood boiling. It's a tough moment for him and the team". Meanwhile, teammate Thomas Muller, a Bayern veteran, was visibly emotional and avoided questions about his own contract extension, focusing instead on Musiala's recovery, saying the injury was "yet to sink in completely".

The collision with Donnarumma sparked debate, with Bayern's sporting director Eberl noting, "I don't think he did it on purpose, but he also didn't take care".

However, former goalkeeper Kasey Keller defended Donnarumma, arguing the challenge was part of the game, while PSG's Desire Doue, who scored in the match, said, "We told him he has our support because it's never easy when these kinds of actions end badly".

As Bayern prepare for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season, starting with the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Stuttgart on August 16, Kompany faces the challenge of reshaping the team without their talismanic playmaker.

The road ahead will test Bayern's depth, but the focus remains on Musiala's rehabilitation and eventual return to the pitch.

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