Alphonso Davies on psychological struggles: “I cried, I doubted myself”
The Bayern Munich star recently returned to the field following a long absence due to knee injury.
One of the players to watch at the 2026 World Cup in North America will be Alphonso Davies, who is set to lead the Canadian national team on home soil.
The 25-year-old has had a tough year, suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus in March and only recently returning to action. His team, Bayern Munich, has released a documentary that chronicles his recovery.
In the video, Davies spoke candidly about the psychological toll of a serious injury: “The first time I showered, all my emotions came flooding back. I cried and cried. I doubted myself, but I had someone by my side telling me everything was going to be alright."
He also described the physical and mental grind of rehabilitation: “It was very tough. Every day I woke up in pain. I couldn’t sleep and was fighting with myself. I’d wake up at five or six in the morning and couldn’t rest properly."
He added that messages from players who had gone through similar injuries helped him push forward, singling out David Alaba for his support: “He told me to keep my head up, keep smiling and keep pushing because that was the only way to get better.”
Davies also reflected on his early days at Bayern, when he replaced Alaba at left back: “I was the youngest player and those were huge shoes to fill. I learned so much from him. We talked a lot and he helped me start enjoying my football." Now fully fit again, Davies is turning his focus toward the 2026 World Cup.
Davies also addressed the injury suffered by teammate Jamal Musiala, who fractured his fibula at the 2025 Club World Cup. “I was in shock. It’s different when it happens to someone you’re close to,” he said. Davies visited Musiala in hospital and noted his positive attitude, something he admitted he struggled with during his own recovery. Musiala is expected to return in early 2026.
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