Huge hype about 17 year oldsBayern youngster Lennart Karl hasn’t even shied away from Messi comparisons
Five scoring points from Michael Olise made FC Bayern happy despite an early deficit. The Frenchman was absolutely delightful – but a teenager from his own team put him in the shade. His name: Lennart “Messi” Karl.
Media-shy Michael Olise slipped out of the arena without saying a word after his five-point scorer – Lennart Karl did not. The famous Bayern teenager is not afraid of anything and anyone: not his opponents, not the hype around him, not TV cameras and reporters’ questions. Yes, the boy doesn’t even shy away from bold-sounding comparisons with Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers on earth.
With a wool cap under his hoodie, 17-year-old Karl stood at the Allianz Arena after another incredible performance in FC Bayern’s 6-2 comeback from a 2-0 deficit against SC Freiburg and answered all the questions that arose in telegram style.
Have you been in contact with national coach Julian Nagelsmann? “NO.” Fresh off a superb three-goal debut in the first two games for the Germany U21 juniors, is the 2026 World Cup keeping him busy? “I just need to show my form and then see what Julian does,” said the offensive talent about a possible promotion to nationals.
Karl classifies the Messi comparison
And the comparison with superstar Messi, who also works wonders with his left foot and, at 1.70 meters, is barely taller than him? This young man does not deny this. But he classified it. He can also achieve great things, “of course if things continue like this. But I can’t compare myself with Messi yet. Messi is at the top. There’s still a long way to go.”
But Lennart Karl’s path from Frammersbach in Lower Franconia is currently climbing very steeply. 17 years old, amazing. The present becomes a promise for the future. The match against Freiburg is further proof. Two-time goalscorer Olise gets an A with an asterisk, as he was involved in three other Bayern goals in addition to 2:2 and 6:2.
But Karl, who like Dayot Upamecano, Harry Kane and Nicolas Jackson scored one goal, was the one who significantly roused Munich’s star ensemble from their deep slumber following Freiburg’s goals from Yuito Suzuki and Johan Manzambi after a corner. The youngest as Bayern leader – Chapeau!
“Lennart is a key player”
Sports director Max Eberl called it “remarkable” how Karl especially carried his leading teammates during a difficult phase in the game. “Lennart was a key player for me today who helped turn things around in the first half,” Eberl said. Even if overall, 23-year-old Olise was the bigger show in a packed stadium. “Two players did something special,” said coach Vincent Kompany of the Karl/Olise duo, who created each other’s goals to make it 1:2 and 2:2: “It was really quality, you can’t describe it any other way.”
The class of Kane, Olise, Luis Díaz or Serge Gnabry is no longer surprising in Munich. In contrast, Karl’s rapid development into a quality player. Local products as a great discovery – and that in the first year after Thomas Müller’s departure from Bavaria. “Someone from our campus, that’s a pleasure,” enthused Bavaria CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen.
Continuously “performing” and “running at full speed” remains Karl’s route. Luis Díaz’s red card suspension and Gnabry’s knee problem could also earn the youngster a place in the starting lineup in Wednesday’s top Champions League clash in London against Arsenal FC. “I’m happy because the coach always relies on me,” said Karl. He also immediately gave the all-clear after being substituted due to a minor injury: “Everything is fine, I’m fit.”
Kompany wants to build Karl up carefully, but not artificially slow him down. Coaches think the hype is “okay.” And he even thinks that “it is important for the boy to enjoy this phase”. But for Kompany, who started playing professionally at the age of 17, the outside world is not important. “We don’t follow the story of which left-footed player is similar to him,” Kompany said of the Messi comparison: “Lenny is Lenny. And we see that he is the best version of Lennart Karl.” Eberl was of the same opinion: “Lionel Messi is about to end his career, Lennart Karl is just getting started. He has to write his own history.”
