Nagelsmann: Musiala's Injury a Major Shock
German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his deep regret over the injury sustained by Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala.
Musiala, 22, suffered a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle during his team's 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday. The youngster will undergo surgery after Bayern's return to Germany.
Musiala was poised to be a key player in Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign, but the youngster is currently in a race against time to be ready for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States next June.
Nagelsmann said in an official statement on Sunday: "Musiala's injury is a major shock to all of us, especially since he has returned to the pitch after a period of absence due to another injury. We support him fully." Nagelsmann added: "The entire German national team supports Jamal. We wish him the best of luck, a successful surgery, and a speedy recovery. This is the most important thing at the moment."
Musiala will be out of the national team until the end of the year, which also means he will miss all of his country's World Cup qualifying matches.
The German national team will play two matches each in September, October, and November. Its group includes Slovakia, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg.
The group winner automatically qualifies for the World Cup, which will be held from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Musiala has played 40 international matches for Germany. He and his teammate Florian Wirtz were expected to be the cornerstone of Nagelsmann's World Cup plans, but the duo have not played together in any international matches this year.