“My Bayern” is the name of the column by SPORT BILD reporter legend Raimund Hinko, which deals with the German record champions. Hinko has been with Munich for decades.
Lieber Jamal Musiala,
Now the World Cup is over, and somehow you weren’t there. Had to fly home after the preliminary round. Had to watch the endgame on the couch. Admired Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé. The main characters. The heroes. your role models. How bitter. Or not?
A lot of smart people who know a lot about football said before this tournament that you can become the discovery of the World Cup in Qatar.
Don’t be sad that it didn’t quite turn out that way. You definitely left your DNA during this World Cup in the 2-1 draw against Japan, the 1-1 draw against Spain and the 3-1 draw against Costa Rica. Your Messi-like dribbles, your Mbappé-like dances through the opponent’s penalty areas, your snake-like movements (quote from your foster father Thomas Müller) are unforgettable. Just like your runs from deep in the field when you felt abandoned up front, so terribly alone that you then lacked that last bit of precision when shooting at goal.
Not seen on TV
How Messi reacted when Argentina became world champions
Those: FIFA
Don’t worry: Hansi Flick has already drawn a very thick line on his list of names with which he wants to become European champion in Germany in two years. Or in four years world champion in Canada, Mexico and the USA. In 2026 the new world champion Messi is 39 years old, not yet an old man – but you will pass him. In four years, Mbappé will be 27. You will fight with him – I hope I’m not exaggerating – for world domination in football, for the Ballon d’Or.
You’ll be fresher at 23 then, as long as – may God have mercy – you don’t get knocked down by some roughneck. As long as you don’t go on risky ski tours like your Bayern and national team captain Manuel Neuer. If he hadn’t skied, he would easily be the best goalkeeper in the world in 2026 at the age of 40. And stand comfortably in the back because he knows that you not only dribble past everyone like Messi, but also tear up the goal nets like Mbappé.
Maybe then the experts, especially your fan Lothar Matthäus, will be guessing who of the three of you is the greatest. Now February 14th in Paris and March 8th in Munich are festive days when you meet them in the Champions League round of 16 against St. Germain (please don’t disturb me on both days). It was already so far that you were compared to Messi, especially Lothar. The three big “M”s of world football in one place. Unbelievable. At 19, Messi was even more shy than you. Back then at FC Barcelona, Xavi said to Andres Iniesta: “Come on, let’s take the little one in our midst and play football with him.” On the other hand, at 19 you’re already so far along that you’re going to the top on your own.
However, this can also be a disadvantage. Messi had great teachers behind him, as did Xavi, Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Bayern still has to find out who the companions or supporters can be. Although Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka are already okay, as people, as drivers, as footballers. Just like Ilkay Gündogan in the national team.
02:48
After this scene
Tough settlement with Fifa boss
Source: IMAGE
The biggest task now lies with Bayern. Oliver Kahn and Hasan Salihamidzic have to pull out all the stops so you don’t succumb to an insane offer from Madrid, Paris or Manchester. Uli Hoeneß and Herbert Hainer, the powerful supervisory board members (they hand over the money), will urge you to stay in Munich, so that you don’t get swallowed up by Real Madrid, the club with the world’s greatest appeal. You at the side of the already 32-year-old (33-year-old on January 4) Toni Kroos, there would be an outcry through the Bernabeu Stadium. Then Toni would be young again in one fell swoop. And you would have a pass machine behind you that is second to none in the world. That would be crazy. Maybe in the national team again? Kroos for Germany? That would be something.
No, I have to stop raving now. There are enough people around me who think it will be over with you in two years. Sturdy guys like Jude Bellingham would be more likely to prevail. I believe that Germany has the right to no longer just play the powerful Hans Peter Briegel football (sorry, dear Walz from the Palatinate), which many so-called experts are now demanding again. German footballers also have the right, see Franz Beckenbauer, to stroke the ball. To delight the audience with art. I maintain that whoever levitates saves energy. I don’t want to say that your football, dear Jamal, is like that of an angel. Even though?
