Jamal Musiala’s recent injury has sent shockwaves through the football world. During Bayern Munich’s fierce clash against Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup quarter-finals, the German wonderkid suffered a serious ankle fracture after a heavy collision with Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
While Bayern mourned their elimination from the tournament, the real blow came just before halftime — Musiala fell to the ground in visible agony, triggering panic among players from both teams. The distressing scene reignited memories of some of football’s most devastating injuries over the years.
Let’s look at a few of those unforgettable moments:
Eduardo da Silva (2008)
The former Arsenal striker suffered a horrific double leg and ankle fracture after a brutal tackle by Martin Taylor in a match against Birmingham City. The injury was so severe that Arsène Wenger called for Taylor to be banned for life. Eduardo returned to the pitch nearly a year later.
Aaron Ramsey (2010)
Another Arsenal midfielder, Ramsey broke his right leg following a challenge from Ryan Shawcross of Stoke City. It took several months of recovery before he rejoined Arsenal’s reserve team later that year.
Luke Shaw (2015)
Manchester United’s left-back endured a double leg fracture during a Champions League game against PSV Eindhoven. The collision with Héctor Moreno forced a 9-minute pause, with a team of 9 medics rushing in. Shaw made his comeback almost a year later in August 2016.
Petr Čech (2006)
Chelsea’s legendary goalkeeper suffered a skull fracture after a dangerous clash with Reading’s Stephen Hunt. Čech nearly lost his life, and his return months later saw him adopt the now-iconic protective headgear.
Neymar Jr. (2014)
In Brazil’s World Cup quarter-final against Colombia, Neymar suffered a fractured vertebra after a rough challenge from Juan Zúñiga. The injury sidelined him for the rest of the tournament — which ended with Brazil’s historic 7–1 loss to Germany.
Patrick Battiston (1982)
In one of the World Cup’s most infamous moments, German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher collided brutally with France’s Battiston, knocking him unconscious, breaking his teeth, and injuring his spine. Michel Platini, witnessing the horror, later said: “I thought he had died on the pitch.”
Musiala Joins a Painful Legacy
Jamal Musiala’s injury now adds him to this list of unfortunate players whose careers were interrupted by severe injuries. While fans await the results of his medical tests, the fear is real: the talented midfielder may face a lengthy spell away from the pitch.
His injury not only deals a tactical blow to Bayern but also serves as a chilling reminder of how brutal football can be, even for the most gifted athletes.
Conclusion
As the football community rallies behind Musiala, all eyes are on his recovery timeline. Will he return stronger than ever, like many legends before him? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain — Musiala’s name is now etched in the history of football’s most heart-wrenching injury moments.