Munich, Germany — Star defender Kim Min-jae (29) was forced to sit out Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt due to foot and shoulder injuries, casting a shadow over his immediate future with the South Korean national team.
The news broke as Bayern Munich maintained their perfect start to the 2025-2026 Bundesliga season. Playing away at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, the Bavarian giants secured a decisive 3-0 victory, extending their winning streak to six games and firming up their lead at the top of the table with 18 points, four clear of second-place Dortmund. Goals from Luis Díaz (a brace, scoring in the first minute and again in the 84th) and Harry Kane (27th minute) powered the win.
Injury Concerns Deepen
Despite the team's triumph, the absence of the key South Korean center-back was a major talking point. Kim Min-jae was included on the substitute bench but ultimately did not feature, with Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano playing the full 90 minutes in central defense.
Kim's current physical woes trace back to recent matches. He reportedly aggravated his condition during Bayern's 5-1 win over Pafos FC in the UEFA Champions League League Phase second round on October 1st. German media outlet TZ reported that Kim is suffering from both a foot injury and damage to his acromioclavicular joint capsule in his shoulder. This recent full-time appearance against Pafos came barely ten days after he was substituted out of a September 21st match against Hoffenheim, complaining of muscle pain. Reports indicate that Kim felt pain from the first half of the Pafos match but soldiered on for his team's benefit, only to skip training the following day as a result.
National Team Status Unclear
The severity of the injuries has placed Kim's participation in the upcoming October A-matches in serious doubt, sounding an alarm for the South Korean national team, managed by Hong Myung-bo.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) has reportedly been notified of Kim’s injury status by Bayern Munich. The national team is scheduled to play friendly matches against Brazil on October 10th and Paraguay on October 14th. The prospect of a long-haul flight and an intense schedule could severely impede Kim’s recovery, prompting Coach Hong Myung-bo to carefully consider whether to risk calling up his defensive stalwart. Bayern Munich is also determined to avoid a long-term injury for the player, favoring caution over a hasty return to the pitch. Kim Min-jae's potential absence would be a significant blow, testing the defensive depth of the Korean squad against challenging international opponents.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
