Recent health developments aside, Jamal Musiala’s star had been rising for many years.
The Germany international caught the attention of Europe for his impactful cameos and jaw dropping dribbling feats at Bayern Munich in the 2020/21 season and his impact for the club continued to grow, eventually unseating Thomas Müller and earning the #10.
But his horrific injury against Paris Saint Germain in 2025 put a stop to all that and has seen him struggle to hit the same heights as before, with his most recent
disappointment being the Round of 32 exit against Paraguay in the 2026 World Cup. Furthermore, he has recently had to deal with absence seizures.
Despite the setbacks, Musiala has proclaimed his desire to win the Ballon d’Or-awarded to the best football player in the world- and retains the potential to challenge for it. In a recent interview with Sport Bild, they tested the former Chelsea FC youngster’s desire to win the award. ith the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo finally aging out of winning the award every single year, does Musiala believe he can now go on to win it himself?
But Musiala is not thinking of that at the moment.
“I don’t want to talk about individual awards right now; those things happen naturally if they happen at all. The team always comes first,” Musiala stated firmly (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “Since I was a kid, I’ve always wanted to become the best version of myself. That’s what drives me every day. What I’ve learned over the years is patience. Especially after my injury, I had to be patient. And I know that I have the quality to reach the highest level. That’s what I’ve set as my goal. But I don’t put pressure on myself regarding personal awards.”
First, Musiala needs to find his rhythm and recapture his best form. Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski have shown that it is at least possible to challenge for the award in Munich, even if the latter believed his best chances of winning the award lay elsewhere. Can Musiala reach that level and then go one better in the future?
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