Coach Nagelsmann shocked by Musiala's predicament: "Massive surprise"
Jamal Musiala, a key player for both Bayern Munich and the German national team, has suffered a severe injury during the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal match against Paris Saint-Germain. The collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma resulted in a fracture of the fibula associated with a broken and dislocated ankle, requiring surgery [2][3].
**Injury Details:**
The nature of the injury Musiala sustained is a fibula fracture and a dislocated ankle. The incident occurred during a harsh clash with Donnarumma in the first half of the match.
**Recovery Timeline:**
Musiala is expected to be out for approximately four to five months, which includes the start of the 2025-26 Bundesliga season and key Champions League matches [1][5]. Given this timeline, Musiala is likely to miss several significant matches, including potentially some of the earlier World Cup qualifiers if they fall within his recovery period.
**Impact on World Cup Qualifiers:**
The exact impact on World Cup qualifiers depends on the specific schedule of these matches. However, with a recovery timeline of four to five months, Musiala might miss some of the early qualifiers if they occur during his recovery period. It is crucial for him to fully recover before returning to competitive play to ensure optimal performance and minimize the risk of further injury.
Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of Bayern Munich, has expressed his support for Musiala during his recovery, and has also emphasized the importance of the player's full recovery for his participation in the home Euro 2024 [4]. Nagelsmann, along with Musiala, forms the creative core of Germany's World Cup plans, alongside Florian Wirtz [6].
The German national team will play matches against Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg during the World Cup qualifiers [7]. The group winner of these qualifiers will secure a direct ticket to the finals in 2026, which will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026 [8].
The injury may also affect Musiala's World Cup plans, as the next summer's tournament will be his fourth with the German national team [9]. Wirtz, who missed the Nations League quarter-finals against Italy in March due to injury [10], is another player whose availability for the World Cup qualifiers remains uncertain.
In the meantime, both Bayern Munich and the German national team will need to adapt their strategies without one of their key players. Musiala has played 40 times for Germany so far [11], and his recovery from the injury is crucial for his participation in the home Euro 2024.
Other European leagues, such as the Premier League, might offer temporary opportunities for Musiala to regain his form and fitness during his recovery period, though it's unclear whether he'll be loaned out by Bayern Munich. Despite missing several significant matches, including some potential World Cup qualifiers, Musiala's focus should remain on a full recovery to ensure his peak performance in the home Euro 2024 and the subsequent World Cup.
