Search

Advertisement

Bayern back Musiala to stay at highest level after seizures diagnosis

Advertisement
Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala (L) leaves the field with assistance during the pre-season friendly soccer match between 1. FC Heidenheim and FC Bayern Munich. (is associated with: «Bayern back Musiala to stay at highest level after seizures diagnosis») Harry Langer/dpa

Germany footballer Jamal Musiala's career is not at risk after he was diagnosed with absence seizures, Bayern Munich sources told dpa on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old collapsed on the pitch in Bayern's 4-2 friendly win at second-tier Heidenheim on Tuesday, having done the same in Saturday's 3-1 friendly victory over RB Leipzig.

He wrote on social media after the Heidenheim game that he was suffering from "brief, temporary - but treatable - absence seizures resulting from a neurological dysfunction" and that he was "optimistic."

Now Bayern sources say there is no evidence that the playmaker cannot continue his career at the highest level. The sources said Musiala’s involvement in the two matches had been completely unproblematic and had been discussed extensively with doctors.

Fans on social media had questioned why he played on Tuesday following Saturday's incident.

Musiala also broke his leg in July 2025 and has been battling back to full fitness. Bayern's first competitive game of the season comes on Saturday in the Franz Beckenbauer Super Cup at Borussia Dortmund.

There was initially no prognosis from the club on how things would develop for the attacking player in the coming days and weeks. The German double winners begin the defence of their Bundesliga title at home to VfB Stuttgart on August 28.

Musiala took to Instagram on Tuesday to try to allay fan fears, writing: "First things first, I am doing well. I am incredibly grateful for your messages and your support!

"I understand that many of you are worried. I would like to put those concerns to rest today and explain the situation: I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary - but treatable - absence seizures resulting from a neurological dysfunction.

"These can lead to the kind of incidents seen recently, such as during the match against Leipzig or the game in Heidenheim.

"I know they might look alarming at first glance, but for me, they are currently part of my everyday life. I am receiving excellent medical care and remain very optimistic. FC Bayern and my personal support network are right by my side, helping me through this."

Form of epilepsy

Doctors say absence seizures are brief, sudden lapses of consciousness which usually do not cause any long-term problems and are most common in children. They can be classed as a form of epilepsy.

Bayern players Manuel Neuer and Dayot Upamecano reacted with heart emojis to Musiala's heath update, knowing how much he has been through over the last year.

At the Club World Cup in Atlanta in July last year, Musiala broke his fibula and severely damaged his ankle in a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals after a collision with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

When he returned to action, he failed to recapture his scintillating form and in March, he suffered a pain reaction in the ankle and took a break.

Pundits wondered whether Musiala should sit out the World Cup, but he was selected and again struggled, just like the wider Germany team.

After the last-32 exit to Paraguay, he underwent a small operation to remove a metal plate from his foot left over from last year's operation.

Bayern had hoped that would free him up to get back to his best, but fans are now wondering if the absences seizures are another hindrance.

The champions brought in Morocco forward Ismael Saibari during the close season after he starred at the World Cup.

The signing from PSV Eindhoven could fill in for Musiala in the number 10 role as could teenager Lennart Karl and veteran Serge Gnabry, although both missed Germany's ill-fated World Cup campaign through injury and are not yet 100% fit.

Advertisement

Comments (0)

Be the first to write a comment.

Leave a Comment