Midfielder Serge Gnabry has confirmed he will not recover from his injury in time and will miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gnabry will miss the 2026 World Cup. Photo: Reuters .
The 30-year-old suffered an injury in the Champions League semi-final, where Bayern Munich secured an impressive victory against Real Madrid. Gnabry started but was forced to leave the field in the 61st minute, making way for Jamal Musiala after showing signs of pain.
Gnabry then participated in Bayern's final training session before their Bundesliga match against Stuttgart in round 30. In that match, the "Bavarian giants" won 4-2, officially securing the 2025/26 championship. However, the joy was short-lived as subsequent medical tests confirmed Gnabry had a torn adductor muscle in his right leg.
According to an announcement on Bayern Munich's official website, Gnabry will be sidelined for an extended period. While the club hasn't released an exact recovery time, the German player himself confirmed the sad news to fans via social media.
Gnabry suffered a serious injury. Photo: Reuters .
"My dream of participating in the World Cup with Germany is now over," Gnabry shared on his personal page. He also said he would be watching and cheering on his teammates from home.
This is a huge shock for both Bayern and the German national team. Gnabry is having one of his most productive seasons in recent years, playing 37 games in all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists. His ability to play well on both wings and in the center makes him a crucial part of coach Vincent Kompany's attacking system.
German legend Lothar Matthaus also admitted that Gnabry's injury was timed very badly. He had hoped that his younger teammate could recover in time to participate with the national team in the biggest football event on the planet, taking place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.