MUNICH, Germany: Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl said Jamal Musiala was a game-changer like Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo after yet another star showing for the German giants.
Musiala was the difference in Saturday's 4-2 win over lowly Heidenheim, which lifted Bayern six points clear atop the table.
Musiala came off the bench with Bayern level 1-1 and had the hosts in front just five minutes later.
With the score 3-2 to Bayern and Heidenheim, who are in the relegation playoff spot, pushing for an equaliser, Musiala collected the ball near the half-way line and sprinted all the way to score Bayern's fourth.
Eberl said "Messi in Barcelona or Ronaldo in Real Madrid, they are simply great players who can decide games.
"Jamal can do that, we know that."
Speaking before the game on Friday, Bayern manager Vincent Kompany echoed Eberl's statements when asked if the league leaders were too reliant on Musiala.
"Weren't Real Madrid dependent on Ronaldo? Weren't Barcelona dependent on Messi?
"Jamal has so much quality, so it's normal that a lot of things are being said about him. He's definitely a special player and of course he's important for us."
Musiala was born in Germany but raised in England and came through the Chelsea academy.
Despite representing the Three Lions as a teenager alongside friend Jude Bellingham, Musiala elected to switch his allegiance to Germany as a senior player.
Eberl lauded Musiala for stepping in for the injured Bayern striker Harry Kane, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring tear.
"Thank God we have someone else in Harry who can decide games too, but he's injured at the moment, so Jamal steps in for him.
"It's simply an outstanding quality.
"We all know what a great footballer he is. There's a reason we are talking about him every weekend and after every game."
Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller – who Musiala replaced in the second half – praised the 21-year-old, telling Sky Germany "what he's doing, we expect that from him now.
"We're happy we've got him."
The goals were Musiala's seventh and eighth of the league season but remarkably the first he had scored in Munich.
"I've finally scored again here in the arena - it feels good to celebrate with the fans," Musiala said.
"I think I've played a lot of games back to back", Musiala said of his benching, adding "it was good that I got a break and came back with new energy."