The rise of Bayern’s ‘special’ teen Karl who ‘plays Messi style’

Over the past ten or so years, Munich, Bayern have almost certainly won everything, but something hasn’t.

Bayern fans haven’t had a local academy graduate since Thomas Muller’s arrival in 2008 to play on the field.

That has since changed, though.

Lennart Karl, age 19, made a surprise announcement to the world last month by setting two stunning goals in three days.

The winger became Bayern’s third-youngest scorer in the Bundesliga and its youngest youngest player with strikes against Club Brugge and Borussia Monchengladbach.

As one of his footballing inspirations Martin Odegaard watched from the opposition bench as Bayern scored the equaliser in their 3-1 defeat at Arsenal on Wednesday.

In doing so, Karl broke Ethan Nwaneri’s record for Arsenal’s scoring, becoming the youngest player in Champions League history to score in each of his first two starts.

Two years ago, Taufig Khalil’s teenage son, who was then 15 and Karl’s son, watched his friend play against a Bayern U17s side with the winger.

“It’s unbelievable,” my son said when he returned home. Lennart Karl, this guy, has five goals, according to Khalil, a reporter from Munich, Bayern.

“This kid had something extremely special, it was pretty obvious.”

Karl was unsurprisingly called up to Vincent Kompany’s squad for the Club World Cup after registering 34 goals and 11 assists in 31 games for Bayern and Germany’s U17 sides combined last season.

Such ruthless finishing was probably foreseen.

Karl, a 10-year-old boy, scored an audacious goal while playing in a sports hall for Eintracht Frankfurt’s U11s, which caused a viral reaction.

Karl swivels and rifles a left-footed volley into the top corner while his back to goal is in control of an aerial ball with a back heel.

Karl was presented with a custom pair of Nike boots at a Bundesliga game by the club’s then-president Peter Fischer and then-sporting director Fredi Bobic, who then won Eintracht’s academy goal of the year award.

Karl started Eintracht’s academy in 2017 from Viktoria Aschaffenburg, where he was born 45 minutes from Frankfurt am Main in Frammersbach, in the north-western Bavarian town.

Bayern and Karl both had great potential, but Eintracht saw it also.

After Karl’s parents’ relations turned sour, he briefly rejoined Aschaffenburg before being hired by Bayern at the age of 14 in 2022, which is still a sore point at Eintracht.

Germany’s most prosperous club, according to SportBild, increased the nominal compensation amount due to a junior player to 35, 000 euros, divided between his two former teams.

Andreas Moller, Eintracht’s former head of academy, told Merkur earlier this year, “We tried everything and would have done anything for him.”

“But we had no chance because Bayern has a very special appeal,” he said.

Vincent, Karl’s younger brother, continues to play for Eintracht’s youth teams.

Karl made his senior Bayern debut against Auckland City at the Club World Cup in the United States in June 2025.

Karl signed his first professional contract over the summer following interest from Real Madrid and Ajax.

He has made 15 appearances this season, and his direct, fearless play has won praise and criticism from game legends.

Because of his low center of gravity, which allows for quick turns, Khalil praised the 5′ 6in Karl, who plays in the Messi style.

Like an NFL running back, he uses his center of gravity to make quick turns and cuts. He occasionally acts excessively, but he is still young.

Arjen Robben, a former Munich, Bayern forward, shares some similarities. Defenders are aware that Karl wants to shoot with his left foot from the right wing, just like Robben.

Defenders struggle to stop him, just like Robben.

German football journalist Mark Lovell reported for BBC Sport that “Karl’s energy and technical quality are genuinely appreciated even by non-Bayern fans.”

Karl’s maturity and skillful handling of his uncommon talent are what are most striking.

He diligently practices, absorbs information from his former team-mates, and doesn’t let his newfound stardom get in the way.

He stated in an interview with the website for Bayern that, regardless of the age group in which he plays, he wants to prove himself and advance.

He doesn’t seem out of place at all for someone his age, Lovell said.

His decisions, composure with the ball, and understanding of Bayern’s tactical demands under Kompany have been outstanding. He plays with nuanced intelligence rather than flair.

You can tell that he is attentive, quick to learn, and adapts. Beyond that, his attitude and work-rate stand out because he presses, turns back, and appears to be fully engaged.

Karl arrived for his school classes the morning after scoring in his first Champions League start, as if to demonstrate that he is correct.

Max Eberl, a member of the Bayern board for sport, told the Bundesliga website, “You don’t need to get the boy on track.”

Karl was named in Germany’s U21s for the first time during the November international window despite being requested to receive his first senior call-up.

He still needs more Bundesliga minutes right now. For the senior team, “says Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann,” “It’s too early.”

In preparation for the 2027 European U21 Championship, Karl scored three goals as the U21s defeated Malta and Georgia 6-0 and 2-0, respectively, during the international break.

He added his second Bundesliga goal a few days later, this time to start Bayern’s comeback from a 2 / 2 deficit to defeat Freiburg 6 / 2.

In his only second Champions League start against Arsenal, he put on a stunning performance four days later.

Although football is full of tales of young players being pressured into playing, it’s unlikely Karl will ever advance to the next level.

Khalil remarked, “He knows what he can do and he is doing it without thinking,” as long as his head is clear and he trusts in his abilities.

Let’s not require that he participate in the World Cup, but give him some time. If he has good minutes, is mature enough, and has good minutes, let him go.

With Michael Ballack, a former German captain, acting for his team and working with experts like Harry Kane and Manuel Neuer, Karl has the right contacts to help him become Bayern’s long-awaited homegrown star.

People have been having dreams about Karl’s emergence, Khalil remarked.

Football fans in Germany are beginning to realize what might be ahead with each appearance he makes.

Germany might have another outstanding young talent emerging right in front of our eyes, Lovell said.