Injured DFB young star
Lennart Karl reacts to the World Cup exit: “It hurts indescribably”
June 6, 2026 – 8:24 a.mReading time: 1 min.
Shortly before the start of the World Cup, Lennart Karl’s dream of taking part in the tournament was dashed. The Bayern professional speaks out.
Young professional Lennart Karl spoke out after his thigh injury and the World Cup exit. He didn’t know where to start, “but it just hurts indescribably to have to miss the biggest tournament,” the 18-year-old FC Bayern Munich footballer wrote shortly after the diagnosis. “Unfortunately, injuries often come at the most unfortunate time.” He did everything to be fit for the World Cup. Karl promised he would come back stronger. He will support the DFB team every minute. “Thank you for the strong news,” he wrote.
Karl tore a muscle bundle in his left front thigh during the final training session before the last test match today (8.30 p.m./RTL) in Chicago against co-hosts USA, as the DFB announced after the offensive player was examined in a hospital.
Condolences from numerous teammates
National coach Julian Nagelsmann reacted immediately to the diagnosis. He nominated Assan Ouédraogo from RB Leipzig instead of Karl in his 26-player squad. The 20-year-old celebrated his international debut in the 6-0 win at the end of World Cup qualifying against Slovakia in November and scored a goal. Ouédraogo will travel to the World Cup headquarters in Winston-Salem in the coming days and meet his DFB colleagues there.
Karl’s post on Instagram quickly gathered thousands of comments, including many from German national players such as Jamal Musiala, Nick Woltemade and Antonio Rüdiger, but also from Bayern colleagues such as Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano or the Swiss Granit Xhaka.