Bayern Munich’s midfield maestro, Jamal Musiala, suffered a gruesome leg injury during their Club World Cup quarterfinal clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

The incident, which occurred late in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has cast a dark shadow over the tournament and raises serious concerns for the prodigious talent’s immediate future.

Musiala, a mere 22 years old and a beacon for both Bayern and the German national team, went down following a 50-50 challenge with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

While replays of the injury were spared from the stadium’s big screens, the severity was evident as the young star received prolonged on-field treatment before being stretchered off.

This setback comes at a cruel time for Musiala, who had been enjoying a stellar Club World Cup campaign with three goals, just one shy of the Golden Boot leaders.

His 20-goal tally across all competitions this season, including 12 in the Bundesliga and three in the Champions League, underscored his burgeoning influence.

The injury, sustained just before halftime with the score locked at 0-0, forced his replacement by Serge Gnabry. Musiala’s ascent has been meteoric; from becoming Bayern’s youngest debutant in 2020 to earning German national team Player of the Year in 2024 and being a Golden Boy runner-up in 2023.