PARIS, July 5, 2025
A Brutal Blow on the Pitch
A star sidelined, a team divided, and a wave of reactions.
- Jamal Musiala suffered a severe ankle injury during the Club World Cup quarterfinal.
- The injury occurred during a challenge by PSG’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
- Bayern Munich’s coach and players expressed anger and concern over the incident.
- Musiala is expected to be out for four to five months.
- Other players have defended Donnarumma, calling the incident unavoidable.
During a Club World Cup quarterfinal, **what caused the wave of reactions in the football world?** It was the terrible injury to Jamal Musiala, a young Bayern Munich player, during the Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Bayern match this Saturday.
The Fateful Play
The incident unfolded during the quarterfinal match between PSG and Bayern. Shortly before halftime, Gianluigi Donnarumma rushed off his line, colliding with Jamal Musiala as he played the ball.
The immediate consequences seemed mild, but replays revealed the severity: Musiala’s ankle had visibly turned. Unable to continue, he was stretchered off the field and substituted at the start of the second half.
Neuer and Kompany’s Outbursts
“It was a situation where it was not necessary to intervene like that. He (Donnarumma) was ready to accept the risk of injuring his opponent,” stated Manuel Neuer, Bayern’s goalkeeper and captain, criticizing what he perceived as a lack of fair play. “I went to see him and I said to him: You don’t want to go see our player? He’s a question of respecting him good luck. He did it afterwards. I would have reacted differently,” Neuer added.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany also expressed his frustration: “I have never been so angry, he just came back from injury and it happens. My blood is still boiling. Someone like Jamal lives for that.”
Support and Prayers for Musiala
Following the match, PSG conveyed their support for Musiala. Donnarumma, via his Instagram account, sent “all his prayers and his wishes of happiness”. Achraf Hakimi told reporters, “I give him all my support, it is an important injury, I hope he will come back quickly.” Luis Enrique and Désiré Doué also wished him a “good recovery”.
Alphonso Davies, the Munich defender, reacted with shock on Twitch, exclaiming, “Oh my god, no!” His reaction quickly spread across social media.
Courtois Defends Donnarumma
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid’s goalkeeper, defended Donnarumma, countering Neuer’s remarks. “To say that Donnarumma is guilty seems excessive to me because we guard them, we go for the ball, like the attackers,” he explained. “I do not believe that the action is so inevitable as that because Donnarumma had to come out,” added Courtois.
The Verdict
The diagnosis revealed a fracture and significant ligament damage, sidelining Musiala for an estimated four to five months.
The serious injury has generated widespread reactions throughout the football community.
