Musiala diagnosed with absence seizures after collapsing twice in Bayern Munich warmup games

Jamal Musiala has been diagnosed with absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction after collapsing in back-to-back Bayern Munich pre-season friendlies, leaving his availability for the start of the 2025-26 season uncertain.

The 23-year-old Germany international went down shortly after coming on against Heidenheim on Tuesday, three days after a similar incident in a friendly against Leipzig. He received brief on-field treatment before being withdrawn on both occasions.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday evening, Musiala described the diagnosis as “brief, temporary, but easily treatable absence seizures caused by a neurological dysfunction,” adding that the episodes were directly linked to what happened in both matches. He stressed there was “no additional health risk” and expressed his determination to continue playing. “I am receiving excellent medical care,” he wrote, “and I want to keep living my everyday life and keep up with my passion of playing football.”

Bayern Munich has not issued any official statement on Musiala’s condition and did not respond to requests for comment from the Associated Press. News agency DPA, citing unnamed sources within the club, reported on Wednesday that there were no indications his career would be affected long-term, but gave no clarity on whether he would be fit to face Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup on Saturday or Stuttgart in the Bundesliga opener the following weekend.

Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl initially declined to address Musiala’s condition when speaking to journalists after the Heidenheim game, saying only that the player would speak for himself. He later drew a comparison to Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, using the moment to reflect on football’s place in a broader human context. “Football is the most beautiful unimportant thing in the world and there are far more important matters at stake,” Eberl said.

Bayern honorary president Uli Hoeneß described the situation as a “drama” for the club, telling Sky on Wednesday that Musiala’s collapses had left him shaken. “I go to bed thinking about him and I wake up thinking about him,” Hoeneß said, adding that the club was still learning how to respond. He promised Musiala would receive “unconditional support in every respect.”

Musiala himself struck a measured tone in his statement, acknowledging he is working through a process while expressing confidence in the medical team around him.