Jamal Musiala, 23, collapsed twice during Bayern Munich’s pre-season friendlies in mid-August, first against RB Leipzig on August 15, then again on August 18 against Heidenheim[ s1,s2,s3,s4,s7]. The incidents raised concerns about the young midfielder’s health.
On August 19, Musiala publicly disclosed a diagnosis of a neurological disorder causing brief, treatable absence seizures. He stated, "I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary — but treatable — absence seizures resulting from a neurological dysfunction. Importantly, there is no further health risk involved" [1, 2, 3]. He added that he is optimistic about recovery and will continue medical treatment while pursuing his football career, emphasizing, "The important thing is that there is no additional health risk. In close coordination and regular communication with experts... to continue my passion of playing football" [1].
Bayern Munich received written confirmation from neurologists that Musiala has no restrictions on participating in high-performance sports[ s1,s2,s3]. The club fully supports the player. Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, said the club was aware of Musiala’s condition before the public announcement and urged fans not to panic, promising full support[ s5].
The second collapse left Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeness "speechless" and "shocked." Hoeness said, "The fact it happened again four days later really shocked me. I was speechless, which rarely happens to me. We support Jamal unconditionally"[ s1].
Medical experts have not specified the exact cause of the seizures. Neurologist Maria Ilyas-Feldmann commented, "Based on the publicly available information, it is impossible to determine the specific cause in Mr Musiala’s case. If it is an epileptic seizure, a temporary change occurs in the electrical activity of groups of nerve cells in the brain"[ s1]. This underscores the need for further evaluation to understand potential long-term effects.
Musiala’s teammates, including Germany national players and Bayern veterans like Thomas Müller, have publicly shown support following the collapses[ s5,s6]. The 23-year-old joined Bayern from Chelsea's academy and extended his contract until 2030 last year[ s1,s3].
Musiala has faced recent adversity. He suffered severe ankle and fibula injuries during the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal in July 2025, sidelining him for 196 days until his return in January 2026[ s5,s6,s7].
Bayern Munich will face Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup on August 22. Musiala's status for the match has not been disclosed amid ongoing treatment and monitoring[ s4].
