In a dazzling reminder of what could have been, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala lit up the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday with a sensational second-half hat-trick in a historic 10-0 demolition of Auckland City. The 22-year-old, once eligible to play for Nigeria, came off the bench and stole the show with a trio of stunning goals—a rocket from distance, a calm penalty, and a poacher’s finish after seizing on a goalkeeper’s blunder.

Bayern’s ruthless victory, now the biggest margin in Club World Cup history, kicked off their Group C journey in spectacular fashion, with Boca Juniors and Benfica still looming on the horizon.

But while Musiala now proudly dons the German shirt, the performance stirred nostalgia and wistfulness among Nigerian fans. Born to a Nigerian father, Musiala was heavily courted by the Super Eagles in his teenage years. He later revealed he had deep conversations with both Nigerian and German football officials before ultimately choosing the latter.

“I could have played for Nigeria because it crossed my mind, and I thought about it well,” he shared in an earlier interview. “I had good talks with Nigeria and Germany… I decided to go with Germany.”

Despite his decision, Musiala still holds his Nigerian heritage close. In a recent light-hearted interview with Serge Ibaka, when asked to choose between Nigeria and Germany, he diplomatically responded:
“Out of respect, I can’t answer that. I have respect for both. I love Nigeria and Germany.”

As Musiala continues to flourish on the global stage, Nigerian fans are left wondering: what if? The idea of a midfield trio of Musiala, Alex Iwobi, and Wilfred Ndidi remains a beautiful fantasy.

For now, the Super Eagles will watch from afar as the one who got away dazzles for Bayern and Die Mannschaft.