Jamal Musiala Reveals Absence Seizures Diagnosis After Second Bayern Munich Collapse in Four Days

Jamal Musiala revealed Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with “absence seizures” stemming from a neurological dysfunction, hours after collapsing on the pitch for the second time in four days during Bayern Munich’s friendly against Heidenheim. The 23-year-old midfielder said the condition is treatable and carries no long-term health risk, but the back-to-back scares have cast fresh uncertainty over his availability just as Bayern head into a pivotal stretch of the season.

Musiala has already endured one of the more brutal injury stretches of any elite player in recent memory. He fractured his fibula and dislocated his ankle in a collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at last summer’s Club World Cup, an injury that sidelined him for roughly six and a half months before he finally returned to competitive action in January. He then underwent a follow-up procedure in early July to remove the metal plate inserted during that surgery, an operation the club called routine and one that was not expected to threaten his availability for the new season. Now wearing the No. 10 for Bayern after inheriting it from Leroy Sané, Musiala had appeared to be trending back toward full fitness before this new health scare emerged.

Two Collapses in Four Days

The first incident came Saturday against RB Leipzig, when Musiala entered as a substitute in the 81st minute, scored a goal, and then appeared unsteady before going down near the end of the match. Teammate Ismael Saibari reacted quickly to catch him and prevent a harder fall. Bayern sporting director Max Eberl downplayed the episode afterward, saying, “The most important thing is that he is fine. There is nothing to say about anything else,” with German outlet Bild attributing the moment to soaring temperatures in Munich.

The second collapse arrived Tuesday against Heidenheim, just six minutes after Vincent Kompany sent Musiala on for Saibari in the 61st minute. He went down off the ball in midfield, prompting Jonathan Tah and Harry Kane to rush to his side as players from both teams formed a circle around him and emergency medical staff sprinted onto the field. Musiala eventually got back to his feet, appeared disoriented, and was helped off the pitch by a staff member before disappearing down the tunnel to a standing ovation from supporters chanting his name.

Musiala Breaks His Silence

Shortly after the match, Musiala posted a lengthy statement on Instagram addressing the situation directly. “I have been diagnosed with brief, temporary — but treatable — absence seizures resulting from a neurological dysfunction,” he wrote. “These can lead to the kind of incidents seen recently, such as during the match against Leipzig or the game in Heidenheim.” He added that he understood the episodes “might look alarming at first glance,” but stressed they are “currently part of my everyday life” and that he is receiving top medical care while remaining optimistic about his outlook.

Musiala was emphatic that the diagnosis does not put his long-term health in jeopardy. “There is no further health risk involved,” he said, noting that the decision to keep playing came after close consultation with neurologists who granted him medical clearance. He also asked for privacy going forward, saying he intends to share further details of the condition only with his closest circle, Bayern’s medical staff, and specialists.

What Comes Next for Bayern

The timing complicates an already crowded calendar. Bayern face Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup this Saturday, and Musiala’s status for that match is very much in question given the club’s cautious approach to his health after two frightening episodes in the span of a week. He is also listed as questionable for the Bundesliga opener against Stuttgart on August 28, a game Bayern had been targeting as his return to full domestic action following the offseason surgery. Anyone tracking the latest Champions League odds will notice Bayern remain among the favorites regardless, a testament to the overall depth Kompany has built even amid the uncertainty surrounding one of his most important attackers.

Should Musiala need more time to rest and undergo further evaluation, Bayern have options to lean on in the interim. Lennart Karl and Ismael Saibari, both of whom have been pushing for more minutes in the attacking midfield mix, are the most likely candidates to absorb additional responsibility in Musiala’s absence. For a club chasing another Bundesliga title and a deep European run, the hope is that this latest scare proves to be a manageable medical footnote rather than the start of another extended layoff for one of the sport’s most talented young players.