Skip to content

Jamal Musiala Shares How He Chose Germany Over Nigeria and England

Jamal Musiala edited

Moment Jamal Musiala Chose GermanyAfrican footballers. Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala could have played regularly for the Super Eagles or England but chose to join Germany instead.

After being named man of the match in Germany’s opening 2024 European Championship game against Scotland, Musiala shared how he decided to represent Germany, even though he was eligible to play for two other countries.

Jamal musiala eligible to play for Nigeria and England

Born in Stuttgart, Jamal Musiala’s football journey saw him rise through Bayern Munich’s academy to the first team. Despite this German backdrop, his international career could have taken various paths.
Read also: From Chelsea to Bayern Munich: The Rise of Jamal Musiala

Musiala was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father and spent many years in England after moving there with his family at the age of seven. His early talent was quickly recognized, leading him to play for Southampton and Chelsea’s academies.

In an interview with BILD, Musiala shared an important moment that solidified his connection with the German national team. He revealed a private picture taken by his mother during a visit to Stuttgart in 2011, showing a young Musiala proudly pointing to the DFB logo on the German national team bus, indicating his early attraction for Germany.

Moment Jamal Musiala Chose Germany

Speaking about the picture, Musiala told BILD, “I don’t remember much about it, but the photo is really cool. My mom takes a lot of photos. It’s great that she captured this moment.” The visit happened during a memorable match where Germany defeated Brazil 3-2 in Stuttgart, with goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze, and Andre Schurrle. Reflecting on the game, Musiala added, “Back then, I was already a big Germany fan; I always wore a jersey.”
Read also: Bundesliga star Jamal Musiala eyeing Real Madrid move

When it came time to choose between playing for England or Germany at the senior level, Musiala chose Germany due to his longstanding connection to their national team. The Bayern Munich star confirmed this, saying, “In the end, I listened to the feeling that has been telling me for a long time that it is the right decision to play for Germany, the country where I was born. But it was not an easy decision.”

Since deciding to represent Germany, Musiala has played 30 times for the national team despite being only 21 years old and has already made appearances at the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championships.