The youngest Germany debutants at FC Bayern

Lennart Karl showed no sign of nerves, which would only have been normal for a debutant, on the night. After coming on as a substitute on 61 minutes in the friendly against Switzerland (4-3), the skilful dribbler brought exactly the youthful lightness and freshness to the game that Germany needed - as if it were the most normal thing in the world. FCB team-mate Jonathan Tah was impressed: "Lennart got into the game very well, with the right desire."

However, this performance was anything but normal, especially as 18-year-old Karl became the second-youngest ever Germany debutant for FC Bayern on Friday. Read on to find out which prominent players he joins the ranks of and which FCB player was even younger on his first Germany appearance.

Bastian Schweinsteiger's internatioanl career also began at a young age. At just 19 years, ten months and five days, our former midfield maestro made his first appearance for Germany. He made his debut in a friendly against Hungary on 6 June 2004: national coach Rudi Völler brought Schweinsteiger on for the second half, but he and his team-mates were unable to turn round the two goal deficit.

Paul Breitner's national team debut was more pleasing. The defender made his first appearance in a Germany jersey at the age of 19 years, nine months and 17 days. The friendly in Norway on 22 June 1971 ended in a 7-1 victory for national coach Helmut Schön's team, with Gerd Müller scoring three goals and Franz Beckenbauer also getting on the scoresheet. Remarkably, Breitner played the full 90 minutes on his debut.

Michael Rummenigge only played nine minutes when he made his debut for Germany in the European Championship qualifier against Turkey on 26 October 1983. The midfielder was 19 years, eight months and 23 days old at the time. Thanks in part to a brace from his brother Karl-Heinz, Germany went on to win the game 5-1.

Just like Michael Rummenigge, Ludwig Kögl only played two international matches for Germany during his playing career. However, the Penzberg-born player was even younger when he made his debut for Germany: At the age of 19 years, three months and eight days, the former FC Bayern midfielder made his first appearance for Germany. The friendly in Mexico on 15 June 1985 ended in a 2-0 defeat for Germany, with national coach Franz Beckenbauer fielding the young left winger Kögl in the starting XI.

Lennart Karl was exactly 18 years, one month and five days young when he made his debut in the friendly against Switzerland on Friday night. This made the FC Bayern Campus-trained attacking all-rounder the second-youngest Germany debutant for FC Bayern.

Only one was younger: Jamal Musial. There were just 27 days between his debut on 25 March 2021 in the World Cup qualifier against Iceland (3-0) and his 18th birthday. Head coach Joachim Löw sent our current number ten onto the pitch for Kai Havertz on 79 minutes. Since then, Musiala has become an integral part of the Germany team.

In addition to Lennart Karl, other FC Bayern players shone in the international matches on Friday night: