Can Uzun rejects Musiala's nickname and wants to be the first Can Uzun

Can Uzun, forward for Eintracht Frankfurt, has been mentioned by Lionel Messi as one of the ten under‑21 talents, and the nearly‑21‑year‑old youngster rejects the nickname “the new Jamal Musiala” to forge his own identity.

A comparison the player does not accept

According to Fabio Deinert’s report for EFE, the German sports press has dubbed Uzun “the new Jamal Musiala”. Uzun himself replied recently: “I don’t want to be the next Musiala. I want to be the first Can Uzun.” His words showed confidence without slipping into arrogance.

Uzun, of Turkish‑German origin, was born on 11 November 2005 in Regensburg and developed at Jahn Regensburg, FC Ingolstadt and 1 FC Nürnberg, where he broke scoring records in the Youth League, the 2 Bundesliga and the German Cup (DFB‑Pokal).

Number 42 arrived in Frankfurt in the summer of 2024. Since then, the German national team, the “Die Mannschaft”, has shown interest, but Uzun has responded clearly, preferring to follow his own path.

Analysts agree that, beyond his physical attributes, Uzun possesses a cognitive maturity uncommon for his age. His game is based on spatial perception and creativity, describing himself as someone who “sees the pass before the play turns into a shot.”

In his own words, the youngster prefers to play naturally, without being overwhelmed by rigid analysis, and seeks to enjoy football responsibly, requesting the ball in critical moments such as the execution of a penalty.

His family, proud of its roots in Turkey’s Black Sea region, supports his desire to write his own story, a sort of “Can Uzun I” that transcends the comparisons with the Bayern Munich star.