Jamal Musiala, a name that has become familiar to football fans all over the world, is a living testament to the perfect combination of natural talent, relentless effort and intense love for the round ball. Born on February 26, 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany, Musiala is of mixed Nigerian-English-German-Polish descent, a cultural blend that has contributed to creating a versatile and creative player.
Jamal Musiala is one of the brightest names at Euro 2024. Photo: IG.
The childhood of the “English-blind” boy Jamal Musiala
Southampton, a picturesque port city in the south of England, was the setting for young Jamal Musiala’s early years. However, moving there from Fulda, Germany at the age of seven was no small challenge for the boy. Jamal Musiala didn’t know a word of English, and having to learn the language from scratch was a huge barrier that separated him from his peers.
But with a burning love for football, Jamal Musiala quickly overcame the difficulties. The boy participated in a trial at Southampton FC and immediately made a strong impression on the coaches. Jamal Musiala was accepted into the club’s youth academy, where he had the opportunity to train and compete with other young talents at the famous Staplewood training center.
Born on February 26, 2003 in Stuttgart, Germany, Musiala is of Nigerian-English-German-Polish descent, a cultural mix that has contributed to the creation of a versatile and creative player. Photo: The Sun.
Here, Jamal Musiala was like a fish in water. The boy showed excellent football skills, surpassing his peers. Jamal Musiala’s impressive performance attracted the attention of scouts from big clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal. Finally, after 4 short months at Southampton, Jamal Musiala decided to join Chelsea FC’s youth academy.
Jamal Musiala’s first day at Chelsea’s Cobham training ground was an unforgettable experience. Not only did he get used to a professional training environment, he also quickly became friends with his new teammates, especially Levi Colwill, an old friend from Southampton.
The fond memories of Chelsea did not stop at the training ground. Jamal Musiala and his teammates also had the opportunity to sit behind the bench for first-team matches at Stamford Bridge, where he witnessed legends such as Didier Drogba, John Terry and Michael Essien in action.
In addition to his time at Chelsea, Jamal Musiala also played football at Whitgift School, where he was recommended by the club. He then moved to Corpus Christi School, where he continued to shine for the school team. Under the guidance of Tony Mesourouni, Jamal Musiala and his team won the 2013 Premier League Secondary School Football Championship, one of three titles won by his team between 2011 and 2014.
Jamal shows off his excellent football skills, surpassing his peers at the Southampton FC Academy. Photo: IG.
England’s regret with young talent Jamal Musiala
Chelsea was the only club Jamal Musiala played for during his playing years in England, besides playing for his school team. Here, under the guidance of coach James Simmonds, Musiala not only developed his football skills but also matured his tactical thinking.
With his deft dribbling and intelligent movement in tight spaces, Jamal Musiala quickly became one of the brightest talents in the Chelsea academy. His composure in front of goal only added to his danger, helping him score countless goals and bring his team many victories.
At just 15 years old, Jamal Musiala was called up to the England U21 team, proving his talent far surpassing his peers. He continued to shine for the England youth team, scoring his first goal in a match against Albania in the 2021 European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.
Jaman Musiala and Jude Bellingham in England U21 colours. Photo: IG.
Jamal’s impressive performances have forced the German Football Association to admit that they have given up hope of signing him. Germany youth team coach Meikel Schönweitz once said: “He (Musiala) has made it clear to us that his future is with England.” Jamal himself has also confided to the media that he feels more comfortable playing for England at youth level, having grown up with other English players at Chelsea.
Shine in Bayern Munich shirt
However, due to the impact of Brexit, Musiala’s family decided to return to Germany. At this time, at Chelsea’s youth academy, Musiala was no longer given much “room to perform” by the club. Feeling under-appreciated in the U18 team, the young man decided to refuse to sign a long-term contract with The Blues in the summer of 2019.
In July of that year, at the age of 16, Musiala left Chelsea to join German football giants Bayern Munich. Just a year later, Musiala made an impressive professional debut, making his mark with Bayern Munich II in the German third division.
The 2020-2021 season saw Musiala explode. Photo: IG.
Shortly after, Musiala continued to make history by becoming the youngest player to play in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich, in a match against SC Freiburg on 20 June 2020. The 2019-2020 season ended with Bayern Munich winning the Champions League, and although he did not play in the final, Musiala was still an integral part of the team.
The 2020-2021 season saw Musiala explode. He scored his first Bundesliga goal in an 8-0 win over Schalke, breaking Bayern Munich’s record as the youngest goalscorer. Musiala continued to make his mark in the Champions League with a goal against Lazio, becoming the youngest player to score in the prestigious tournament with dual English and German citizenship.
In the following seasons, Musiala continued to show impressive form, scoring many important goals and contributing greatly to Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga championship. In particular, his decisive goal against FC Köln in the 89th minute of the 2022-2023 season helped Bayern Munich successfully defend the title.
The future pillar of the German “Tank”
Despite playing for England at youth level, Musiala eventually chose to represent Germany. This decision was motivated by his love for his homeland and the persuasion of coach Joachim Löw, who had the “vision” to see Musiala’s great potential on the pitch.
During the time Musiala’s family moved to Germany due to Brexit, Germany coach Joachim Löw was determined to bring him back to the Mannschaft. He even personally met Musiala’s family to convince them of the young man’s bright future with the German national team.
This fateful encounter changed everything. Before turning 18, Musiala made the most important decision of his career: to play for the German national team. On February 24, 2021, he officially announced his choice, ending speculation about which team he would play for.
Musiala’s decision sparked a heated debate between Löw and England manager Southgate. However, for Musiala, it was a choice that came from the heart. He felt more attached to his native Germany and believed that this was where he could best develop his career.
Musiala proved his mettle in the German national team. He is considered a future pillar of the “tank”. Photo: The Sport.
After joining the German national team, Musiala quickly proved his talent. He made his debut for Germany in the 2022 World Cup qualifier against Iceland and scored his first goal for the national team in the match against North Macedonia.
At EURO 2020, Musiala became Germany’s youngest player to play in a major tournament. He made important contributions, especially the assist for Leon Goretzka’s equalizer against Hungary, helping Germany qualify for the round of 16.
Musiala continued to shine at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the first German teenager to appear at the tournament since 1958. He also left his mark with an impressive dribbling performance against Costa Rica.
Most recently, at EURO 2024, Musiala once again proved his class by being named Man of the Match in the opening match against Scotland. He scored a beautiful goal. In the match against Denmark, he scored his next goal at EURO 2024 in Germany’s 2-0 victory. He is currently competing with Gakpo of the Netherlands for the top scorer position.
Musiala’s playing style is highly regarded for its versatility, creativity and ability to create breakthroughs. He can play well in many positions in attack, from central midfielder to winger. His ability to dribble skillfully, pass accurately and finish coolly has helped Musiala become one of the most dangerous attacking players in the world at the moment.
Not only is Musiala talented on the field, he is also loved for his humble, friendly personality and always trying his best. He is always grateful to his family, friends and coaches who have helped him throughout his career.
At the age of 21, Jamal Musiala has achieved success that many other players only dream of. However, with his talent and determination, Musiala will certainly go even further in the future. He is expected to become one of the brightest stars in world football, bringing glory to Bayern Munich and the German national team.