Jamal Musiala, the Bayern Munich and Germany star, suffered a serious injury during a FIFA Club World Cup quarter-final match against Paris Saint-Germain on July 5, 2025. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder sustained a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle following a collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma just before halftime. The injury occurred as Musiala chased a loose ball near the byeline, and his left leg got caught awkwardly under Donnarumma, causing him to scream in agony. He was stretchered off the pitch and taken to a hospital in Atlanta for assessment before flying back to Munich on a private air ambulance for surgery.
Bayern Munich confirmed on July 7, 2025, that Musiala underwent successful surgery to address the fractured fibula and dislocated ankle. The club stated he would begin rehabilitation immediately but is expected to be sidelined for at least four to five months, with a potential return around December 2025 or January 2026. German outlet BILD reported that Musiala also damaged several ligaments, which could complicate his recovery, and there are concerns about whether he will fully regain his world-class form, as noted by Dr. Rajpal Brar, a physical therapy specialist. Despite these concerns, Musiala remains optimistic, stating in a July 9, 2025, Instagram video that the surgery went well, he is in good care, and he views the incident as an accident with "no one to blame."
The injury has been a significant blow to Bayern, with sporting director Max Eberl describing it as a "real shock" due to Musiala's central role in the team. Manager Vincent Kompany expressed frustration, noting Musiala's passion for the game and the cruelty of the setback, especially as he had just returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the final two months of the 2024-25 season. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and others criticized Donnarumma’s challenge as "reckless," though Musiala and PSG’s manager Luis Enrique emphasized it was an unintentional accident. Donnarumma later posted well wishes on social media, to which Musiala responded positively.
Recent updates indicate Musiala is progressing in his rehabilitation, he is "giving it his all" in rehab. He was seen at Bayern’s Säbener Straße facility on crutches alongside teammate Alphonso Davies. The club is reportedly considering internal options like young talent Paul Wanner or potential transfer targets such as Xavi Simons to fill the gap in the attacking midfield during Musiala’s absence.
