„Irreplaceable for Bayern“: Hamann sees Karl ahead of Kane and Musiala | OneFootball

TV pundit Dietmar Hamann lifts Lennart Karl into spheres that have recently only been reserved for exceptional figures at FC Bayern. The 17-year-old is not only causing a stir in sporting terms – but also with the comparisons that are suddenly being made

Lennart Karl continues to make headlines at FC Bayern – and no longer just because of his performances on the pitch. TV pundit and permanent Bayern critic Dietmar Hamann has now also spoken out and given the 17-year-old attacking jewel extraordinary praise. Hamann reached deep into the historical box of comparisons and mentioned Lionel Messi, Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthäus in the same breath. Names that are rarely heard in Munich – especially not in connection with a teenager

In an interview with JeffBet, Hamann explained why Karl’s development impresses him so much. „Lennart Karl was asked who his idol was, and he said Lionel Messi. That doesn’t surprise me,“ said the 50-year-old. The decisive factor is not the name itself, but the way Karl plays soccer. His low centre of gravity, tight ball control and ease of dribbling remind him strongly of the Argentinian world star. Parallels that are hard to overlook on the pitch

„He’s dominating all the headlines right now“

photo: IMAGO

Hamann’s assessment of Karl’s current role in the Bayern set-up is particularly noteworthy, with the 17-year-old currently dominating public perception of the record champions. „He’s dominating all the headlines in Germany at the moment. People are saying that Kane is in Karl’s shadow at the moment,“ Hamann emphasised, a statement that illustrates the impression the home-grown talent has made recently – even alongside a world-class striker like Harry Kane

Hamann cited the Champions League match against Arsenal as one example, where Karl was the decisive factor, scored and was the most efficient attacking player. „He’s irreplaceable for Bayern at the moment,“ he concluded, an assessment that underlines how highly rated Karl already is – despite his young age and the enormous competition in the squad

Musiala is not unaffected by this development either. Hamann assumes that even the established international will have to work his way back into the squad. If a Champions League semi-final or final is on the cards at short notice, Karl would currently be given preference. However, Hamann does not see this as a disadvantage for Musiala, but rather an opportunity to return to top form without time pressure

Beckenbauer comparison causes a stir

However, Hamann’s historical comparison attracted the most attention. „Franz Beckenbauer and Lothar Matthäus are among the best German players of all time – and they didn’t do at 17 what Lennart Karl is doing now,“ explained the TV pundit. To perform at this level in the Bundesliga and Champions League is simply sensational

Despite all the euphoria, Hamann also struck a cautionary note. The greatest achievements of players like Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo were not individual seasons, but the ability to maintain this level over ten to 15 years. This is precisely the biggest challenge for Karl. Talent alone is not enough – consistency, mentality and physical development will decide how far the path actually goes.