Jamal Musiala injury update: Bayern star back in individual training after thigh tear
Jamal Musiala has returned to individual training at Bayern Munich after a right thigh muscle tear suffered with Germany, but reports say his return is still some way off. Hainer: We are not worried.
Jamal Musiala has taken his first steps back on the grass after a muscle tear in his right thigh, but Bayern Munich are not rushing their star playmaker. The 23-year-old completed an individual session at the club's Säbener Straße training ground on Thursday 8 October 2026, according to Foot-Africa, while AfricaSoccer reported on 11 October that his return was still some way off and gave no date. This Jamal Musiala injury update explains how he got hurt, what the latest reports say about his return date and how Bayern are coping before Saturday's Bundesliga clash with RB Leipzig.
Jamal Musiala injury update: hurt in the warm-up with Germany
The injury happened in unusual circumstances. Musiala picked up a muscle problem during the warm-up before Germany's Nations League match against the Netherlands in late September and was withdrawn from the squad, according to a BBC-sourced report published by the Ghanaian Times on 29 September. He never made it onto the pitch that evening.
Subsequent examinations revealed the nature of the damage. Foot-Africa reported that the tests showed a muscle tear in his right thigh, an injury that typically requires a careful, staged rehabilitation to avoid a recurrence. Bayern have not been quoted giving a precise timeline in the reports available.
Back on the grass: Musiala's individual session at Säbener Straße
The first encouraging sign came on Thursday 8 October. According to Foot-Africa, Musiala trained individually at Säbener Straße under the supervision of fitness coach Simon Martinello. The session focused on changes of direction and work with the ball, the kind of drills that mark the transition from basic rehabilitation to football-specific training.
That progress should not be over-interpreted, however. Only days later, on 11 October, AfricaSoccer reported that his comeback was still some way off and did not give a return date. Individual work is an important milestone, but it is usually followed by several further stages, including partial and then full team training, before a player is ready for match minutes.
Musiala injury timeline
| Date | Development | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Late September | Injured in the warm-up before Germany vs Netherlands, withdrawn from squad | Ghanaian Times (BBC-sourced) |
| After examinations | Muscle tear in the right thigh identified | Foot-Africa |
| 8 October | Individual session with fitness coach Simon Martinello: changes of direction and ball work | Foot-Africa |
| 11 October | Return still some way off, no date given | AfricaSoccer |
Musiala return date: what Bayern have said
No official return date has been published. The clearest words from the club have come from president Herbert Hainer, who spoke to Bild about the situation. Hainer said that before the international break Musiala had been returning to his old form, and he made it clear there is no alarm inside the club: "We are not worried."
The Bayern president went further in his praise, describing Musiala as being "on his way to becoming one of the best players in the world." Those comments reflect how highly the player is valued at the Allianz Arena, and also explain the cautious approach: Bayern want him back fully fit for the long run rather than rushed for a single fixture.
Impact on Bayern: RB Leipzig and the Bundesliga race
Bayern face RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday 17 October, and based on the latest reports that game comes too soon for Musiala. According to Yalla Shoot data, Bayern are third after five matches with 11 points from three wins and two draws, two points behind joint leaders SC Freiburg and Borussia Dortmund, who both have 13. Bayern remain unbeaten, with 16 goals scored and just four conceded, the best attack in the division.
The goals have come from several sources even without Musiala. Michael Olise has four league goals and an assist, Harry Kane has three goals and three assists, and Ismael Saibari has contributed two goals and two assists, according to Yalla Shoot data. Leipzig arrive fifth with nine points and a potent attack of their own, having scored 15 goals, with Christopher Nkunku on four.
In Europe, Bayern have four points from their first two Champions League league-phase games, with eight goals scored. Kane has three of them. Musiala's creativity between the lines would add another dimension to a side already scoring freely, but Bayern have shown they can produce results while he works his way back.
Background: a second major injury in two years
Musiala is a product of Bayern's academy and a Germany international, and he has become one of the most important attacking players for both club and country. This latest setback comes after a much more serious injury: he suffered a broken fibula against Paris Saint-Germain at the 2025 Club World Cup, which kept him out for months. Against that background, Hainer's comment that Musiala had been rediscovering his old form before the international break carries extra weight, and it underlines why Bayern are being careful with this muscle tear.
What's next for Musiala
The next steps are a gradual increase in training load, followed by a return to group sessions once the medical staff are satisfied with the thigh. Until Bayern confirm a target date, any specific Musiala return date should be treated with caution. In the meantime, Bayern's focus is on Leipzig and the title race. Follow the game and all of Bayern's fixtures on the Yalla Shoot live scores page, and check back for the next Jamal Musiala injury update.