by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Jamal Musiala marked his long-awaited return with a smile, a selfie and an assist.
The 22-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder briefly broke with football convention by taking a photo on the pitch after the final whistle, even though he was not named player of the match. The moment reflected relief more than celebration, and teammates appeared happy to indulge it, including Harry Kane, the actual MVP.
Musiala made his first appearance in 196 days, coming on late in Bayern's 5-1 Bundesliga win against RB Leipzig after recovering from a broken leg and ankle suffered in July against Paris Saint-Germain.
76 seconds after entering in the 87th minute, Musiala set up Michael Olise for Bayern's fifth goal.
"He's been through a difficult time," Kane said. "To see his smile is heartwarming. It says a lot about his mentality."
Musiala resumed full training in December, and coach Vincent Kompany said the midfielder has brought "positive energy" back into the squad.
"After going through a dark tunnel, the small things make you happy," Kompany said. He added that full integration remains the priority and described the feeling of returning as "unforgettable for a player."
Kane admitted to feeling nervous anticipation when Musiala was waiting on the sideline to come on.
Ahead of Bayern's upcoming Champions League match against Union Saint-Gilloise, sporting board member Max Eberl said the plan for the coming weeks is simple.
"Have fun, collect minutes and build fitness so he's ready for the important moments," Eberl said, calling Musiala's return a boost for a Bayern squad pushing toward its biggest objectives.
Musiala said he cherished "every minute" he was on the pitch, and teammates ushered him to the front during post-match celebrations with supporters.
Defender Jonathan Tah joked that Musiala will always be "Bambi," a nickname referencing his light-footed style, while midfielder Alexander Pavlovic praised his determination during recovery.
Still processing the moment, Musiala needed confirmation of his contribution.
"It was an assist, right?" he asked, as if unsure it had really happened. The selfie, it seemed, was proof enough. ■
