Lennart Karl

Lennart Karl became one of the story of Germany's pre-tournament preparations when he scored in the 3-1 friendly victory over the United States on 6 June 2026 in Chicago, only to be ruled out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup the same day with a Left thigh muscle tear sustained in training. Assan Ouedraogo of RB Leipzig was called up as his replacement, leaving manager Julian Nagelsmann without one of his most exciting options.

Karl (Born 22 February 2008) is a Left-footed attacking midfielder who operates primarily on the right flank for FC Bayern Munich, where he became the club's youngest-ever scorer in the Champions League at 17 years and 242 days in October 2025, netting against Club Brugge. He went on to score in three consecutive Champions League matches, a record for a player of his age. In his debut senior season at Bayern he contributed nine goals and eight assists across all competitions, helping the club to a domestic treble.

Karl's combination of pace, creativity, and composure beyond his years had made him a focal point of Germany's World Cup preparations, having also scored in a 4-0 win over Finland in May 2026. His absence deprives Germany of an unpredictable match-winner off the bench at a tournament they are widely regarded as one of the favourites to win.