Sports
Why everyone is talking about Bayern Munich’s Lennart Karl, 17
Bayern Munich have started the 2025-26 season with 13 consecutive wins to equal the record set by AC Milan in 1992-93 across the five major European leagues. And they’ve done so without star midfielder Jamal Musiala, who broke his leg at the Club World Cup over the summer and will miss most of the campaign.
But they’ve also announced the next wonderkid on the European scene, as 17-year-old midfielder Lennart Karl has taken the world by storm to score twice in a week. Indeed, Karl has gone from rising star to regular first-team contributor at Bayern in only a matter of months, during which time he became the club’s youngest-ever Champions League goal scorer when he netted against Club Brugge.
He first joined Bayern academy at age 12, after formative spells at Viktoria Aschaffenburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, but he raced through multiple youth groups within three years, made his bow for the senior team and signed a professional contract that runs until the end of 2028 (with a reported automatic option to extend it longer on his 18th birthday, Feb. 22, 2026)
A long-term prodigy within Germany’s youth national teams, Karl’s development has been both anticipated and carefully managed. Despite having only featured up to Under-17 level so far, his impact there has been emphatic, with seven goals in 13 outings, and he is often used as the creative lynchpin of a talented generation.
The goal for Bayern against Brugge put him on the map as one of Germany’s most promising young prospects, and he continues to impress when given a chance to shine.
His game fits the concept of the modern Bayern attacking midfielder perfectly. Quick, direct, tactically flexible and technically superb, Karl has all the tools at his disposal and scored his first Bundesliga goal against Borussia Mönchengladbach at the weekend.
Position
Though generally comfortable in any role behind the central striker — including as a No. 10 — Karl is most effective as a right-sided playmaker who drifts inside onto his stronger left foot.
Excellent at playing between the defensive lines, his low center of gravity — he measures at just under 5-foot-6 — gives him the balance and agility to navigate short spaces. Meanwhile, an explosive first step makes him elusive in crowded areas, often allowing him to slip away from defenders before they’ve had the chance to get settled.
While predominantly right sided, Karl’s versatility is also a significant plus. He can operate centrally as a linking midfielder, or push wider to create overloads, showing the spatial awareness and timing to adjust as the game develops.
His ability to receive the ball on the half-turn and connect quickly his teammates has also successfully translated to senior level.
Strengths
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Bayern’s 17-year-old Lennart Karl scores a beauty for his first Bundesliga goal
Bayern’s 17-year-old Lennart Karl scores a beauty for his first Bundesliga goal to pad the lead against Borussia Monchengladbach.
Arguably, Karl’s most distinctive feature is his ball progression at pace. He manages physical contact well for his size, handles the ball neatly in tight areas and accelerates quickly away from pressure. His rapid changes of direction often open up space that he can exploit with disguised passes, give-and-go combinations, or early crosses. All of which are skills that make him hard to defend against.
Karl has also demonstrated that his build-up capabilities can be turned into end product. Across his U17 and U19 seasons at Bayern, Karl produced more than 30 goals and 10 assists, which are excellent figures for a teenager operating largely from wide or advanced midfield areas.
Those numbers match well with what scouts consistently praise: his direct, purposeful runs into the box, a confident shooting technique and an instinct for striking the ball early before defenders have time to react.
Even with only a handful of senior appearances under his belt, Karl’s decision making in the final third is mature for his age. He often receives the ball cleanly, generally releases at the right moment and shows composure under pressure. Moreover, there a clear tactical imprint from Bayern’s coaching at “The Campus” academy to his game: a preference for short, quick exchanges around the area, but also the vision to attack space when defenders step up too high.
Technically, Karl is very well equipped and thrives in combinational play, yet he also carries enough individual flair to create moments on his own. His first touch sets up his next move and his body orientation when receiving possession allows him to open up multiple passing angles.
While not a natural playmaker in the classical sense, his creative instincts — especially on cutbacks and disguised through balls — make him a valuable “connector” between midfield and attack.
While Karl isn’t physically imposing, he does compensate to a certain degree with remarkable balance and coordination. Early signs have shown that he can deal with challenges, regain his footing and keep the ball alive under contact, which are pre-requisites for someone entering the physical intensity of top-flight football. Furthermore, his intensity also matches Bayern’s brand of possession-dominant, attacking football.
Things to work on
Karl’s next steps mostly revolve around consistency and robustness. While his technical base is already outstanding, sustaining intensity across full matches — particularly off the ball — remains an obvious area to work on.
Applying himself in the counter-press, tracking runners and maintaining compact defensive shape are also learning points and should come with maturity and physical development.
Some habits from youth football will need refining too. Against academy opponents, Karl could often beat one extra defender and still find a way to take a shot; at senior level, however, the right choice may be an early one-two pass or finding the overlapping right back. And while the speed of his decision making is good, exploiting the split-second “execution window” against experienced defenders is likely to be a key area to improve.
Bayern’s head coach Vincent Kompany has publicly urged calm by stressing patience over premature expectations. That balance suits Karl’s personality well, as he’s grounded and receptive to feedback, aided by the presence of his agent and mentor — former Germany captain Michael Ballack — who advises him on his career and on developing the defensive side of his game.
In quotes
“Lennart considers Martin Ödegaard as a role model, and I really do see parallels. But he’s also a bit like Arjen Robben and Michael Olise – players who like to cut inside and finish.” — Bayern youth coach Patrick Kaniuth
“I’m not a fan of hype, and now he will be getting some of that. I’m a fan of training and calm … Everyone knows he can score goals and if he keeps going like this, he’ll get a chance and maybe at the right time he’ll need a bit of calm.” — Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany
“As a young player, you don’t have pressure. I want Lennart to feel that too. He has to enjoy what he’s doing. If he makes mistakes, we’ll discuss it. Hopefully, at some point, the pressure will be on his shoulders. But for now he should enjoy these moments without any pressure.” — Kompany
“He’s a fantastic player. He’s not afraid to dribble. He just has to keep working hard, and he’ll have a great future ahead of him.” — Bayern teammate Harry Kane
“I really want to establish myself here at Bayern … I always want to play and prove myself, whether it’s with the first team, the U19s or the U17s. I intend to always give my all in order to continue to develop.” — Lennart Karl
What’s next?
Bayern’s stated progression plan for Karl is sensible: they want to avoid external noise and ensure his gradual exposure to senior football. After all, pre-season minutes have turned into real matchday opportunities, which is already an encouraging sign at a club where young attackers often wait longer for opportunities.
In the short term, Bayern seem intent on rotating Karl through multiple attacking roles: as a right-sided inside-forward, a narrow No. 10, and occasionally a left-sided option to encourage his two-footed development. Each role offers a different challenge, but will help refining abilities such as acceleration, composure, flexibility, game intelligence and creative risk-taking.
His continued involvement with Germany’s youth teams is also expected and a U21 call-up seems a logical next step in November. Though at this rate a senior call-up (perhaps even for the summer’s World Cup?) should not be ruled out either.
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The Minnesota Vikings may be eliminated from the playoffs, but the Dallas Cowboys technically weren’t heading into their Sunday night matchup at AT&T Stadium.
The Cowboys’ chances are now at rock bottom after falling to the Vikings, 34-26, on Sunday night.
The Vikings are now 6-8 on the season, while the Cowboys fell to 6-7-1. And though they’re not technically eliminated, the Cowboys’ playoff chances are hanging by a thread now.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after a touchdown during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
It was an inauspicious start for the Vikings in this contest, as J.J. McCarthy very first pass attempt was an interception, as it was tipped at the line by a blitzing Donovan Wilson and Quinnen Williams looked up and hauled it in.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense had tremendous field position for their opening drive, and though it took 11 plays to go 35 yards, Javonte Williams was able to nail it into the end zone for the 7-0 lead.
It also wouldn’t have happened without a fake field goal, as Brandon Aubrey, one of the most trusted legs in the NFL, ran for a first down on fourth-and-4 from the Minnesota 29-yard line. However, Aubrey would come up in a not so good way later in this game.
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The Vikings were finally able to get something going after the field was flipped on their third drive when Aaron Jones was pushed out of bounds on an 18-yard reception, and the Cowboys were called for a horse collar tackle, tacking on 15 yards. On the very next play, McCarthy fired a touchdown pass to Jalen Nailor — his first of two scores in this one — to tie the game at seven apiece.
The second quarter brought about a wave of offense on both sides, as Dallas responded with Malik Davis rushing one in from a yard out, while McCarthy capped a 75-yard drive with a perfectly executed fake handoff on Dallas’ one-yard line for a walk-in touchdown.
On the ensuing drive, Aubrey, who again has one of the most reliable legs in the game, missed just his third field goal attempt of the year, this one from 51 yards out. After Will Reichard nailed one, Aubrey had some redemption before halftime, as both teams tallied 17 points.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) looks to throw during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 14, 2025. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
In the second half, the Cowboys ended up with a 23-17 lead thanks to two more Aubrey field goals, but seven points is what they were hoping for. McCarthy helped make it happen with a big pass to Nailor to set up the Vikings in the red zone.
After Justin Jefferson, who struggled in this one despite the targets, not hauling in a touchdown pass, C.J. Ham buried a one-yard touchdown to make it 24-23 after the extra point.
Prescott tried to match his second-year counterpart, but the Cowboys stalled on Minnesota’s 41-yard line. At 59 yards out, it’s well within Aubrey’s range, but he missed yet again. All four of his field goal misses this season have been from 50 yards and beyond.
Now, with the ball near midfield, the Vikings had a chance to further their lead and they got just what they needed. On 1st-and-goal from the Dallas four-yard line, McCarthy found Nailor again and he celebrated as the Vikings went up 31-23.
The Cowboys would turn the ball over on downs on the ensuing drive, and the Vikings saw Aaron Jones pick up multiple first downs to not only keep the clock running, but force Dallas to use all their timeouts.
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In the box score, McCarthy was 15-of-24 for 250 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, as Jordan Addison’s 58-yard catch was among some of his great throws.
For the Cowboys, Prescott was 23-of-38 for 294 yards, though he never threw a touchdown pass. CeeDee Lamb led all receivers in this game with 111 yards on six catches, but George Pickens was kept quiet for the second straight game. He had just three catches for 33 yards.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo — Chargers safety Tony Jefferson was ejected after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyquan Thornton in the fourth quarter of Los Angeles’ 16-13 victory Sunday and left the field in frustration, making an obscene gesture toward fans.
After the game, Jefferson apologized for the gesture. He said that he didn’t have any bad intentions on the hit and thought it was legal but hadn’t yet seen a replay.
“I’m classier than that. I was just caught up in the moment,” Jefferson said. “Emotions get high. I won’t sit here and act like I’m a perfect man. I messed up and I did that. I have kids at home and there’s kids out there watching the game too, so I apologize.”
The play was initially flagged for unnecessary roughness, and a brief skirmish followed before officials disqualified Jefferson. Thornton was put in concussion protocol after the hit.
“I saw a football play,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “That’s what I saw.”
Jefferson had been physical throughout the game, delivering multiple big hits, including a jarring shot on Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice that forced an incompletion on third down earlier in the game.
“Physicality is a huge part of the game,” he said. “You have to be smart with it.”
Jefferson, who was a healthy inactive for three games this year, has become one of the most important players in the Chargers’ secondary in recent weeks.
Before this season, Jefferson had four interceptions over his first 10 seasons in the NFL. This season, Jefferson is tied for the team lead in interceptions with four while routinely delivering crushing hits to receivers who dare to catch passes over the middle of the field, as he did on Sunday.
“He’s playing really good, really good football,” Harbaugh said.
The Chargers already began Sunday’s game without safety Elijah Molden, who had a hamstring injury. Rookie safety RJ Mickens also went down with a shoulder injury. Without Jefferson, the Chargers had to rely on veteran Marcus Williams, who was elevated from the practice squad, and Kendall Williamson, who typically only plays special teams.
The video assistant referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct?
This season, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process both in terms of the VAR protocol and the laws of the game.
All screenshots photo credit: NBC
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee, with over 12 seasons on the elite list, working across the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the elite level, he has operated within the VAR space in the Premier League and offers a unique insight into the processes, rationale and protocols that are delivered on a Premier League matchday.
Referee: Craig Pawson
VAR: Darren England
Incident: Possible red card
Time: 45+2 minutes
What happened: Brighton’s Diego Gómez challenged Liverpool attacker Florian Wirtz. The challenge was late and high, with referee Craig Pawson deeming it a reckless challenge, giving Gómez a yellow card for his actions.
VAR decision: The referee’s call of a yellow card for Gómez was checked and confirmed by the VAR — with the challenge deemed not to be with excessive force and not serious foul play.
VAR review: Pawson’s communication would have described the challenge by Gómez as high and reckless, with a level of contact; however that contact lacked any force to meet the threshold of serious foul play.
The VAR review centered around Pawson’s wording, with any intervention only considered if the replays evidenced the contact to be different to that described on-field.
These types of situations are judged against one of two wordings in law:
• A disregard for the safety of their opponent: yellow card
• Endangering the safety of their opponent: red card
The VAR was comfortable that the referee’s judgement was sound and that it met the criteria for a yellow card.
Verdict: A correct on-field judgment by Pawson, with Gómez showing a disregard for the safety of his opponent as opposed to endangering him, and the VAR was right not to intervene.
However, Gómez was fortunate. It is a fine line with these types of challenges, and more direct contact to the chest of Wirtz with his straight-legged approach, and the VAR review would have produced a red card for the Brighton player.
Referee: Rob Jones
VAR: John Brooks
Incident: Possible red card
Time: 59 minutes
What happened: Wolves midfielder Hwang Hee-Chan, having overrun the ball in midfield, threw himself into a challenge on Arsenal defender Myles Lewis-Skelly from distance. Jones deemed the challenge to be reckless, as opposed to serious foul play, and only cautioned the Wolves player.
VAR decision: The referee’s call of a yellow card was confirmed by the VAR — with Hwang deemed to be pulling out of the challenge on Lewis-Skelly and the contact on the foot deemed to be just a reckless foul and nothing more serious.
VAR review: Watching the live feed, this challenge would have immediately caused concern for Brooks in the VAR hub and his initial thought would naturally have gravitated toward upgrading it to a red card.
But Jones and his team took their time to process the information between them. Brooks’ review would have been thorough, looking at a number of replays, as the challenge was borderline against all the criteria considered for a red card offense. However, for him to recommend an on-field review, he needed clear and obvious evidence that an error had been made.
Hwang did overrun the ball and was, to a degree, out of control, while he did make contact with his opponent at speed. The contact, however, was on the top of Lewis-Skelly’s foot, with Hwang attempting to retract his leading foot at the point of contact, which reduced the force to a low level.
These considerations led the VAR to agree with the on-field decision of a yellow card.
Verdict: The VAR was correct to not intervene in this event, and the process he employed highlighted a high level of application in his role. The initial challenge looked a poor one in real time, however, it is the role of the VAR to remove all emotion and operate only with the facts and pictures presented.
Hwang can consider himself fortunate that his reckless challenge was at a low point of contact, which is the only thing that saved him.
On reflection, Jones will be disappointed with his body shape and positioning at the point the challenge was made. He was caught pivoting on the spot, so his view of the tackle was blocked and he left himself without the opportunity to view the contact in full. Instead, he was forced to rely on his assistants to feed the information as best they could.
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