Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer has been sidelined “for the foreseeable future” after tearing a muscle in his right calf.
The 38-year-old former Germany goalkeeper sustained the injury during Bayern’s Champions League last-16 first leg against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. Neuer had to leave the match in the 59th minute, with 21-year-old debutant Jonas Urbig stepping in as his replacement. Despite the setback, Bayern comfortably secured a 3-0 victory.
In an official statement, the club confirmed the severity of Neuer’s injury, explaining that the team’s medical staff diagnosed a torn muscle fibre in his right calf. As a result, Neuer will be unavailable for an extended period.
The match marked a milestone for Neuer, as it was his 150th start in the Champions League. This achievement made him only the fourth player in history to reach that mark, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo (178 starts), Iker Casillas (176), and Lionel Messi (150). Neuer also became the first player to make all 150 appearances exclusively as a starter.
Since joining Bayern from Schalke in 2011, Neuer has made 554 appearances for the club. This season alone, he’s featured in 33 matches across all competitions for the Bundesliga giants.