Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala has disclosed that he is living with a neurological condition after collapsing on the pitch during two separate preseason friendlies within the space of four days. The 22-year-old Germany international announced on Instagram that he has been diagnosed with "absence seizures" — a form of epilepsy in which consciousness briefly lapses for a few seconds — and said he is receiving medical care and remains optimistic about his future.

Musiala first collapsed 17 minutes into a substitute appearance against RB Leipzig during a preseason friendly played in temperatures of around 33 degrees Celsius. Bayern Munich initially attributed the incident to heatstroke, a plausible explanation given the conditions. That account unravelled on Tuesday evening when Musiala collapsed again, just four minutes after coming on against Heidenheim — this time with temperatures well below 20 degrees. Players from both teams formed a circle around him while he received treatment on the field, after which he was able to walk off unaided. Bayern's sporting director Max Eberl confirmed the club had been aware of the condition beforehand, having chosen to let Musiala control the timing of any public disclosure.

In his Instagram statement, which received more than 1.2 million reactions within hours of posting, Musiala said the episodes had been linked to a "neurological dysfunction" and acknowledged they could appear frightening to onlookers. He added that his doctors had confirmed there was no additional health risk beyond the seizures themselves, and that he had played in the recent friendlies with their knowledge and approval. He asked that detailed discussion of his condition remain within the circle of those closest to him, the club, and his medical team.

Absence seizures are generally considered highly manageable. In most cases, medication can effectively control the episodes, and reducing stress is known to lower their frequency. Bayern Munich have indicated they expect Musiala to continue his professional career. The question in the short term is when he will be ready to return to competitive action. The Bundesliga champions face Borussia Dortmund in the German Supercup on Saturday, and Musiala's participation appears unlikely given the current circumstances. His situation is further complicated by the fact that he has only recently fought back from a serious ankle injury sustained at the Club World Cup in July 2025.

The disclosure raises broader questions about how the club, its medical staff, and the public will navigate future incidents should they occur. Even with medical clearance, further visible episodes on the pitch could provoke anxiety among supporters unfamiliar with the condition. As one German outlet noted, learning to understand and contextualise absence seizures in a high-profile sporting environment is likely to be a gradual process — for everyone involved.