The calibre of play this week that Lennart Karl was having is something even the best players in the world dream of, let alone a 17-year-old in his debut season for his boyhood club.
When his peers were doing homework after school, Karl started for Bayern Munich in the bright Wednesday night lights. And it took him just five minutes to smash Jamal Musiala's record and become Bayern's youngest goalscorer in the Champions League.
He took off with the ball in the middle of the pitch, skipped past three Club Brugge defenders before slotting it into the top corner. The composure, finesse, and vision often seen in the best attacking players in the world were on full display in that wonder goal. It was hard to imagine that it was his first start for Bayern in the Champions League, as he also took home the Man of the Match award.
Just a few days after his record-setting night at the Allianz Arena, the 17-year-old wonderkid followed up with his maiden Bundesliga goal. A Robben-esque finish, he curled it into the top bin as the opponent's goalkeeper was left frozen to watch it go into the back of the net. That goal was the exclamation point that sealed Bayern's hard-earned victory away at Borussia-Park.
Bayern Munich's 17-year-old prodigy Lennart Karl scored his first-ever Bundesliga goal against Mönchengladbach with this beautiful curled strike ⭐️🔴 pic.twitter.com/k0eR2dhviU
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 25, 2025
Two games, two stunning goals. Lennart Karl has now become an internet sensation and the talking point of football lovers. But for years, Bayern Munich knew they had a star up their sleeves waiting to bloom.
Karl been shining at the youth level for the last couple of years
He immediately showcased his talent after arriving at Bayern's youth setup in 2022. With a sublime left foot that can produce magic with his dribbles and thunderous long shots, Karl quickly rose in the ranks. By last season, he tallied 34 goals and 11 assists for Bayern Munich's U19 team.
The 2008-born starboy can play well as a number 10 or on the right flank, where he can utilise his dribbling skills in tight spaces, cut inside, and cause chaos for the opposition. While most people recognise his shooting and ball control, Lennart Karl also has an underrated passing ability and an eye for setting up his teammates.
His extraordinary talent has been a regular topic for Bayern stakeholders. After making his debut for the club last summer in the Club World Cup, Vincent Kompany was confident enough in his ability that Bayern did not buy any backup for Michael Olise or for Jamal Musiala when he went down with an injury.
Lennart Karl has answered the fans and his gaffer's trust. And he answered it loudly and proudly. Donning number 42, Jamal Musiala's former number, he is carrying a legacy of Bayern and Europe's top talent.
This is more than a fleeting moment of brilliance from a young player. This is the arrival of a generational talent and the next big thing in world football. How Bayern nurtures Karl's blooming talent and sudden ascension will define his career and even the club's future success.