Uli Hoeneß, honorary president of Bayern Munich, a competitor in the German Premier League, doubted the ability of playmaker Jamal Musiala to regain his usual level again after he was diagnosed with a neurological disorder.
Musiala, who is close to recovering and returning to the field, fainted twice within a few days in August, one of them just 6 minutes after he came on as a substitute in Bayern Munich's 4-2 friendly win over Heidenheim.
Tests later revealed that he had a neurological disorder.
Musiala broke his leg during the Club World Cup in 2025; Which led to him missing half of last season before returning to the field in early 2026.
The player did not perform well with the German national team in the 2026 World Cup, which was held earlier this year. The four-time world champion bid farewell to the tournament early, and has also been sidelined since last September due to an injury to his hamstring muscles.
“We face a dilemma in this case,” Hoeneß told Bavarian radio PR. "He suffers from a disease that cannot simply be cured, but can be controlled to some extent with medication."
He added: “But will he have the same performance as he had... What if Bayern sees that the player is no longer able to provide what his contract stipulates?”
Musiala is still far from his usual level before 2025, which saw him win the Golden Boot as the best scorer participating in the 2024 European Championship.
For his part, Lothar Matthaus, former captain of Bayern Munich and the German national team, sees Hoeneß's statements as a way to motivate the player.
Matthews told Sky: “Oli directs a veiled criticism at him and tries to provoke him a little. “It is not limited to surrounding him with excessive protection, but it also includes exposing him to some challenges and difficulties, which is part of the development process.”
He added: “With this statement, Oli was deliberately seeking to provoke a reaction from him. If I were in Jamal's place, that would have been enough motivation for me to prove to Olly that I had returned to my level. "This will certainly please Ole."
Promising Barcelona defender Pau Cobarci crowned a year full of football successes at the club and national team levels by winning the “Golden Boy” award, two months before he turned twenty.
Cobarci played a decisive role in Spain's World Cup victory, winning the tournament's Best Young Player award. He was the main pillar of Barcelona's defense during their campaign to maintain the Spanish First Division title.
The winner of the “Golden Boy” award is determined by a vote of journalists, and is given to the best young player according to his level during the calendar year. In order for a player to be eligible to compete for it, he must be under 21 years old and play in major league competitions in Europe.
Coparsi said in a video clip broadcast by the Italian newspaper Tuttosport during the awards ceremony: “I am very proud to have received this award, and I thank everyone who voted for me. “It was an amazing year, and we will strive to achieve more.”
The 19-year-old player became the first defender to win the award since Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt in 2018, and only the second since it was introduced in 2003.
“It is more difficult for defenders to get recognition,” Koparsi told Reuters. “We are far from the spotlight. “Maybe our work is not as visible as the strikers because in the end they score more goals, provide assists, play more attractive football, and attract more attention.”
Spain conceded only one goal during its campaign to win the World Cup, which was held in North America last summer.
Kuparsi follows in the footsteps of his Barcelona teammates Lamine Yamal, Gafi and Pedri, who have all won this award since 2021.
Felicia Schroeder, striker for Real Madrid and the Swedish national team, won the Golden Girl award.
