Lothar Matthaus blames Bayern form for Jamal Musiala's Ballon d'Or exclusion

In an interview with Bild, the legendary midfielder, who would have included Musiala in the top 30 nominees, echoed the sentiments of Bayern's sporting director, Max Eberl.

Matthaus emphasised that Bayern must regain their "sense of belonging," which he believes has "completely disappeared recently." He stressed that this feeling must be revived both within the team and the club's management.

"With the discontent that has surrounded Bayern over the past two years, no player can win the Ballon d'Or," Matthaus stated, recalling his own Ballon d'Or triumph in 1990. "I won the Ballon d'Or because we were successful at Inter Milan and because we won the World Cup with the German national team.

"No matter how well you perform individually or how many goals you score, if you don't win anything with your team, your chances of winning such awards remain slim."

Matthaus highlighted Musiala's potential, noting that he "has everything needed to win the Ballon d'Or."

He praised Musiala's understanding of the game, his movements, and ball control, adding, "He can do things that most people wouldn't even think are possible."

Matthaus also acknowledged Musiala's recent improvement in finishing, stating that it is "logical and sensible" for him to aim for the Ballon d'Or. He speculated that Musiala will closely observe Bayern's sporting progress before deciding whether to extend his contract, which runs until 2026.

"His decision will depend on how the club develops in the near future and whether he considers other major opportunities," Matthaus concluded.

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