A 17-year-old star appearing in the Champions League is said to have a "Messi-like appearance and plays as skillfully as Yamal."

23/10/2025 10:10:00 VictoryVox

Lennart Karl, the 17-year-old Bayern Munich player, recently drew the attention of all Europe after setting the record as the youngest German to score in Champions League history.

With a small build, gentle face, and tricky playing style, Karl reminds many of a young Lionel Messi, while his confidence and unpredictability in every move recall Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's "wonderkid."

Just a year ago, Lennart Karl was still playing for Bayern Munich’s U17 and U19 teams. But his talent was quickly discovered during the team’s summer tour in the United States. Vincent Kompany, the new Bayern coach, saw in Karl a "raw gem" that needed refining and decided to give him a chance to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup. It was in this tournament that Karl made his first-team debut, starting his rapid rise.

This season, Karl has been officially listed in Bayern Munich’s first-team squad. And after only 11 appearances, he had a memorable moment: scoring the opening goal in a 4-0 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League group stage.

Lennart Karl set the record as the youngest German player to score in Champions League history.

In the 5th minute of the match, Karl received the ball from Jonathan Tah in midfield, turned to beat defender Brandon Mechele, then charged into the central area before firing a sharp left-footed shot that hit the crossbar and went straight into the net. A goal marked by individual brilliance, combining speed, bravery, and the killer instinct of a great star.

That goal not only opened the way for Bayern’s impressive victory but also secured Karl’s place in history as the youngest German to score in the Champions League, at 17 years and 242 days old. He broke the previous record held by Jamal Musiala (17 years, 363 days) set in 2021. Interestingly, Karl also wears the number 42 jersey, the same number Musiala wore when scoring for Bayern against Lazio.

After the match, Karl appeared in the interview area with a radiant smile and a confident statement: "I don’t need to fear the opponents. I just need to do what I do best."

Sources inside Bayern revealed that before the game, the coaching staff had "predicted" Karl would score. And he truly did, with such confidence that Coach Kompany even laughed: "He has... the guts to do that. Karl possesses a very 'healthy' confidence, and I like that. But now the key is to keep him calm and prevent him from getting carried away by compliments."

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