Mathys Tel

Mathys Henri Tel (born 27 April 2005) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for club Bayern Munich. Known for his pace, finishing, and creative dribbling ability, Tel has drawn comparisons to his French compatriots Kylian Mbappé and Karim Benzema.

Rennes
A former youth academy player of Paris FC, Tel joined Rennes in 2020. He made his professional debut on 15 August 2021 in a 1–1 league draw against Brest. His debut at 16 years and 110 days made him the youngest player to appear in an official match for Rennes, a record which was previously held by Eduardo Camavinga.

2022–23: Debut season
On 26 July 2022, Tel signed for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich on a four-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Rennes was of €28.5 million, bonuses included. On 31 August 2022, he scored his first goal in a 5–0 win over Viktoria Köln in the DFB-Pokal, to become the youngest goalscorer for the club in a competitive match, aged 17 years and 126 days. He scored his first Bundesliga goal in a 2–2 draw against Stuttgart on 10 September 2022, to be the youngest scorer for the club in that competition.

2023–24 season
On 2 September 2023, he scored a late winner in a 2–1 away victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, which ended a five-match winless streak against the latter. On 20 September, he scored his first Champions League goal in the second minute of stoppage time to secure a 4–3 win over Manchester United. On 3 October, he scored the winning goal in a 2–1 away victory over Copenhagen in his Champions League second consecutive match of the season. On 6 March 2024, he extended his contract at the club until 2029.

International career
Tel is a French youth international, notably for the under-18s since September 2021, where he has proven to be a prolific goal scorer.

In May 2022, he was selected for the France under-17 team for the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Israel. He established himself as a starter during the competition, serving as captain of the team on three occasions. He stood out by scoring three goals in the group stage: one goal against Poland, and a brace against Bulgaria. France qualified for the final after a penalty shootout against Portugal, with a 2–2 score at the end of regulation time. On 1 June 2022, with a 2–1 victory against the Netherlands, Tel won the 2022 Euros with the French under-17 team.

In May 2023, Tel's club Bayern Munich prevented his participation in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup with the France under-20 team. His club also denied him permission to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics on home soil.

Style of play
Tel started his career as a centre-back and showcased a remarkable versatility early on. Equipped with exceptional technical abilities, game intensity, and agility, Tel has the capability to excel in almost any position on the field. Notably, during his early matches for both at Rennes and the national youth teams, he has demonstrated proficiency as a winger, centre-forward, and attacking midfielder.

Sponsorship
Tel has been sponsored by Nike since he was 14 years old. His contract requires him to play and practice in Nike apparel (for which he can receive up to 10 000 euros per year). After he stopped wearing Nike gear in the summer of 2023, Tel was ordered to resume using them until mid-2024 due to his contract.

Personal life
Born in metropolitan France, Tel is a Christian of Guadeloupean descent.

Honours
Bayern Munich
 * Bundesliga: 2022–23

France U17
 * UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2022