Musiala Magic set to enchant Bayern for many more years

There are very few footballers who possess a special gift that is so difficult to put into words. Players with outstanding ability on the ball. Those who read the game, find creative solutions and provide moments of genius that seem to defy the laws of physics – so often unexpected and offering crowds a sense of magic. They’re that spark you need when a game is on a knife edge. They have that certain something that just can’t be explained, can’t be learned but immediately catch the eye.

Jamal Musiala possesses all those special qualities. Technical finesse and graceful movements characterise his now unmistakable playing style that combines apparent ease, joy of the game and outright footballing genius. An excellent pass or irresistible run with the ball at his feet or brilliant idea allow the 21-year-old to turn games on their head. It’s no surprise that the German forward is regarded as a magician on the pitch. And his Bayern residency is set to continue for many more years, providing tricks and awe-inspiring moments until at least 2030 after extending his contract. fcbayern.com is marking the big news with a look back at some of our No.42’s magical moments at the club.

Typical move to break scoring record

It’s easy to forget that it’s been four years since Musiala scored his first senior goal for Bayern. But rewatch it now and it was obviously a strong hint at what the then 17-year-old would become. It was an almost typical Musiala goal as he scored Bayern’s eighth in a statement win over Schalke on the opening night of the season back on 18 September 2020. Introduced in the 72nd minute for Leroy Sané, he received the ball on the left from Robert Lewandowski in the 81st minute. The teenager controlled it with his right foot, took a couple of smell steps towards the defender, keeping the ball incredibly close, and then cut inside into the box on his right. The Schalke backline had no answer to him as he finished into the near corner. It was the first time we got to see his now iconic M celebration into the cameras as Musiala became the youngest goalscorer in Bayern’s Bundesliga history at the time, displacing Roque Santa Cruz at 17 years and 205 days old.

First taste of European magic

The writer of this text was sat with the team’s reserves watching the senior side’s 4-1 win away at Lazio in the Champions League on TV in February 2021. When Musiala bagged his first European goal in the 24th minute in Rome, a striker turned to the group that included Josip Stanisic and Armindo Sieb and said: “Jamal is just amazing. Incredible how quickly he’s made it.” Indeed he had made it at the very highest level, announcing himself here by collecting a pass from Leon Goretzka and instinctively firing it into the bottom left corner of the Lazio goal from the edge of the box to make it 2-0. This time Bayern’s youngest-ever Champions League goalscorer celebrated by sliding across the Stadio Olimpico turf with his friend Sané. “The fact he now holds the record is secondary,” said Goretzka. “He was so delighted that he got to start. We told him he should just play freely and do what he does.” A Bayern team without Musiala starting is now almost unimaginable.

Musiala fires Bayern to title

There are important goals and then there are really important goals. And there are those that no fan will ever forget. Like on the final day of the 2022/23 season. There were 89 minutes on the clock in Cologne when Serge Gnabry set off down the left wing. In the middle, Bayern’s No.42 put out his hand to signal where he wanted the ball. He controlled it with his left foot, spun 180 degrees and then curled his shot inside the right post without even lifting his head and snatched the Bundesliga title for Bayern. At only 20 years old, Musiala had made himself a legend. The goal is without doubt the most important of his still nascent career and also symbolic of his abilities. The control, the movement and the finish – all at such speed and almost impossible for any defender to handle. Simple a joy to behold.

Musiala leaves Wolves dizzy

While the Wolfsburg players looked frustrated after conceding the goal, Musiala had left the crowd speechless. The Bundesliga had not seen a goal like that for a long time. The game in Wolfsburg in February 2023 was just entering the final phase when the ball was played to our No.42 around the halfway line. He looked up and there was no free teammate in sight. So, Musiala made a swift move past two Wolfsburg players and into the centre. There was more space there, but still no opportunity to play it on, so he dribbled straight towards goal. And dribbled. And dribbled some more. Nobody in the Wolves defence was able to grab him, tackle him or even foul him. He left a total of six opponents standing as if they were slalom poles. He then slotted the ball into the near corner from six yards out. A solo dance across half the pitch, crowned by a goal. If we were on a TV talent show, every judge would have awarded 10 points.

Taking on everyone

Many a Bayern supporter threw up their hands in disbelief. What had just happened here? There's no question that Musiala had a great day when Bayern visited Darmstadt in March 2024, contributing three goals to the 5-2 win. But what he did to the Lilies' defence in the 64th minute of the match cannot be explained by good form alone. It was world class. The ball was glued to his foot as he made his way to the byline in the opposition penalty area, when he faked out the first Darmstadt player, shook off the second with a feint and - surrounded by six defenders - coolly slotted the ball over the line. This control and change of direction were a delight for any football connoisseur. “Jamal is a difference-maker who is difficult to stop on the pitch,” said Manuel Neuer, praising this generational talent.

Diamond forged under opposition pressure

Fleet-footed, agile, carefree - Musiala's style of play can be described with many adjectives. But above all, he is effective at what he does. One of his core competences is maintaining his vision and finding solutions even in tight spaces and against numerous opponents. He demonstrated this impressively in the away match at Freiburg in March 2024. Following a pass on the left, Musiala went to dribble around the corner of the penalty area. A shift of his body and a flick later he was past his opponent. The attacking artist played the ball past two other defenders who had spread out in front of him and flicked the ball nonchalantly into the far corner. All of this took place within a radius of two to three metres. Musiala's ingredients for the one-on-one were a willingness to assert himself, few frills and a drive towards goal.

Feeling for space, ball and teammates

When it comes to breaking down opposition defences, Musiala has a well-stocked toolbox. In addition to precise finishes and irresistible dribbles, his repertoire also includes fine one-two passes and an eye for his teammates. When things need to be quick and straightforward, passing to a better-positioned teammate is often an effective way of thwarting solid defences. Musiala did this particularly well in November 2022 against Schalke. In the 38th minute, Gnabry fed the youngster in the hosts’ penalty area, Musiala used his heel to knock it back to his attacking partner, who scored with his left foot to give Munich the lead. A move straight out of the textbook!

Solo run left unfinished

It was a solo move that deserved a goal. Musiala almost gave Bayern a brilliant lead in their game away at VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 23 of the 2022/23 season. Alphonso Davies played his friend into the centre of the opposition penalty area, the Bayern No.42 spun on his own axis, caught out two Stuttgart players with a double La Croqueta, curved around two more opponents and shot. Although his effort was blocked, the crowd in the stadium went wild for a moment. There they were again, those irresistible, lightning-fast moves in the tightest of spaces that make defenders look like slalom poles to be passed. Moments that are hard to grasp. Even if the youngster missed that chance, Bayern won thanks to goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. But Musiala's individual moment of brilliance also had a permanent place in the highlight videos.

And now his journey at Bayern continues. We can’t wait for many more magic Musiala moments.

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