Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala is a superstar in the making. But this season the 21-year-old was left off the Ballon d’Or shortlist — more of a long list really — which has certainly raised eyebrows in some corners.
Musiala himself is not unaffected. But he’s not about to campaign for himself, either — he knows the honors will follow good work.
“I’d be lying if I said no individual awards matter to me,” Musiala said in comments captured by The Guardian’s Rob Draper (via @iMiaSanMia). “I think everyone growing up wants to win an individual award of some kind. [But] the most important thing is, we had a tough season last season and we need to do better this season. The main focus is on winning trophies and everything else will come when the time is right.”
It wasn’t only Musiala himself who had a mixed performance last season. Bayern went trophy-less and Germany, while impressive, only got as far as the quarterfinals at EURO 2024.
For Musiala, bigger team success and individual accolades may just come hand in hand.
