In a chaotic quarterfinal of the Club World Cup on Saturday night, Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala suffered a broken leg during their 0-2 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Musiala’s left ankle appeared to be dislocated following a reckless challenge from PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the penalty area just before half-time in Atlanta, with players from both teams in disbelief and looking away, moved by the incident. The 22-year-old rushed into a challenge with defender William Pacho; PSG keeper Donnarumma dived onto the ball and inadvertently rolled over Musiala’s left leg, twisting it at an alarming angle.
Bayern’s medical team rushed to the field as Donnarumma, stunned by the severity of the incident, covered his face in disbelief. Players from both teams formed a circle around Musiala, who was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Right after Musiala’s injury, referee Anthony Taylor declared an early conclusion to the first half with the score still 0-0. PSG went on to win the game thanks to late goals from Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé, in a match that also saw two players – William Pacho and Lucas Hernandez – sent off.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany said his “blood was boiling” not because of the loss, but because of Musiala’s broken leg. “I’ve rarely been so angry at half-time, not against my players – I know there are much more important things in life, but for these guys it’s their life. Someone like Jamal lives for this. He just came back from a setback and now this happens. You feel powerless. My blood is still boiling right now, not because of the result – that’s football. But because it happened to someone that enjoys the game so much.”
An enraged Bayern Munich goalkeeper blamed Donnarumma for Musiala suffering a broken leg.
“It was a situation where you don’t have to go in like that. That’s risk-taking. He was prepared to accept the risk of injuring his opponent,” Neuer said. “I went to him and said, ‘Don’t you want to go and see our player?’ It’s a matter of respect, of going there and wishing the guy all the best. He then did it. Fair play is always a part of it. I would have reacted differently.”
Max Eberl, Bayern Munich’s director of sport, pointed the finger at Donnarumma for the accident.
“When I jump onto his [Musiala’s] lower leg while sprinting, weighing 100 kg, there’s a high risk of something happening,” Eberl said. “I don’t think he did it intentionally, but he also wasn’t being considerate.”
An upset Donnarumma later took to Instagram to express his concern for Musiala: “All my prayers and well wishes are with you, Jamal Musiala.”
PSG coach Luis Enrique began his post-game press conference by wishing Musiala a speedy recovery. “He was very unlucky that Gigi fell on him,” the PSG coach said. “I wish him the best. There is no bad intent.”