Berlin (AFP)

Leverkusen-Bayern, the shock of the leaders of the Bundesliga, puts face to face Sunday (3:30 p.m.) two prodigies of 18 years, already German internationals: the Munich striker Jamal Musiala and that of Leverkusen Florian Wirtz, expected in their country like stars of the 2020s.

- "New Neymar" -

Slender boy with the face of a child, nicknamed "Bambi" by his comrades, Musiala gives an incredible impression of carefree and lightness when playing against opposing defenders in swaying dribbles.

"He has a magnet in his feet, the ball always comes back to him, he is extraordinary," enthuses his Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann, while Lothar Matthäus, the record holder for German selections (150), speaks squarely of a "new Neymar".

It was Hansi Flick, ex-Bayern coach and now coach, who unearthed this nugget at the "Rekordmeister" training center and made it start in the Bundesliga and then in the Champions League, at the end of 2020.

A few months later, in March, Joachim Löw - coach at the time - gave him his first cap at 18 years and a month.

Before summoning him to the group for Euro-2020, during which he played for a few minutes.

Last week he became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the "Mannschaft" since 1910, at 18 years and 227 days (against North Macedonia, 4-0).

German striker Jamal Musiala celebrates his goal during the 2022 World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia in Skopje on October 11, 2021 Nikolay DOYCHINOV AFP / Archives

Bi-national, Musiala had previously played in the youth teams for England.

"What is special about him is that he has a great mentality in addition to his talent," recently testified his Bayern teammate Thomas Müller, who sees him as a "magician".

"He is hardworking, modest, but he has confidence in himself," continued Müller, "he is not the guy who plays pretentious in the locker room, but he plays smart".

- "Best-seller" -

Facing him Sunday, Florian Wirtz.

The 18-year-old is this week on the front page of Kicker, the German football magazine.

"The story of this player has only just begun, and it promises to be a bestseller," predicts Kicker: "There is no doubt that he will soon start in selection."

German striker Florian Wirtz during the 2022 World Cup qualifying match between Germany and Armenia on September 5, 2021 in Stuttgart Christof STACHE AFP / Archives

He added that not only is Wirtz a pure talent in attack, but also that "he embodies the artist who knows how to hurt himself. He never backs down, he launches into duels with assurance and aggressiveness".

Attacking midfielder or winger, this compact striker (1.76 m), European champion U21 2021 with Germany, already holds a record of precocity: by giving the victory to Leverkusen 1-0 against Mainz on September 25, he is became the youngest player in history to reach the 10-goal mark in the Bundesliga.

This season, he has already scored four times and provided five assists, in six matches.

In September and October, Hansi Flick first called him to the national team.

In 76 minutes of play (four entries as "joker"), he offered two goals to his partners, and showed astonishing nerve.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Florian Wirtz (R) scores during the Bundesliga meeting between Stuttgart and Leverkusen on September 19, 2021 in Stuttgart THOMAS KIENZLE AFP / Archives

A nerve that he does not lack in the locker room either, unlike Musiala: "From the first day, he started to put his two cents in," said his Leverkusen teammate Julian Baumgartlinger: "He doesn't care what people think the others, it is even his trademark. He is insolent, speaks freely, and does not wonder how it will be perceived ".

On Sunday, Wirtz will have an advantage over Musiala: in Leverkusen, he is almost guaranteed a starting place.

Musiala is in competition with the Sané, Gnabry, Coman, Müller and other Lewandowski: his status as a young prodigy in no way guarantees him a place in the starting lineup of Julian Nagelsmann.

© 2021 AFP