After Gnabry's injury: this breakout star now battles for the World Cup

After the topic had already been debated endlessly in recent months, one name has to come up immediately here: Said El Mala. The Cologne superstar was allowed to travel with the senior national team for the first time last autumn after his outstanding start to the season, but Julian Nagelsmann did not include him during the last international break in March.

Instead of letting his head drop, El Mala has once again made a big impact on the pitch in recent weeks. The youngster scored for FC both in the derby against Gladbach and in the important 3-1 home win over SV Werder Bremen. Since the dismissal of Lukas Kwasniok, the Fritz Walter Medal silver winner has also started every game for Cologne, rather than coming on to dribble past tired legs.

📸 Dean Mouhtaropoulos - 2026 Getty Images

By now, the Cologne livewire is up to eleven goals in his first Bundesliga season, well ahead of other World Cup hopefuls such as Jamie Leweling, Maxi Beier or Chris Führich. In addition, the Cologne man scored his goals in fewer minutes than, for example, Leweling, who kept getting game time in a Germany shirt during the last international breaks. Although someone like Leweling or Beier knows the teammates and the environment better than Cologne's reliable scorer, the raw numbers currently speak in his favor.

To convince the national team coach, Said El Mala will have to surpass himself in the final four Bundesliga matches. Against Leverkusen, Union Berlin, Heidenheim and FC Bayern, Cologne's great hope must prove that he can raise his form even further in order to help the national team at the World Cup.

It would certainly help if Cologne's market-value king shines against Leverkusen or FC Bayern. Delivering top performances against teams of that caliber would send a clear signal to Nagelsmann & Co. that he can keep up with the best national teams on the planet.

📸 Christof Koepsel - 2026 Getty Images

Against Union and Heidenheim, however, El Mala must of course not take it easy either. Against those two "basement clubs," who will in all likelihood defend deep, the silky technician can show that he could also be a trump card against deep-lying underdogs in Germany's World Cup group, such as Curaçao.

If the youngster gives everything for the dream of the World Cup, anything is possible. The old motto applies here: "Now or Never." With a stunning finish to the season in top form, Nagelsmann may yet rethink things and take Said El Mala with him. If the upcoming performances are only average, the World Cup train could leave the station rather quickly. For the dribbling artist, then, the final four matchdays of the Bundesliga are clearly all about making the World Cup squad.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.