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Assan Ouedraogo has received an unexpected call-up to the German national squad for the 2026 World Cup. The RB Leipzig youngster was named as a replacement for the injured Lennart Karl and has now shared the humorous story of how he discovered his good news.

An emotional shock under the Spanish sun

Bayern Munich’s Karl suffered a major thigh injury during Germany’s final training session, prompting Julian Nagelsmann to turn to Ouedraogo as his replacement. The news reached the 20-year-old midfielder while he was enjoying a peaceful holiday in Marbella, Spain. As he relaxed in the sun, his phone rang — and on the other end was the national team coach himself. For Ouedraogo, that moment was life-changing.

“I was lying on the lounger, completely relaxed. Then the call came, and I went from zero to 180 instantly — it was an explosion of emotions,” Ouedraogo told Sky Germany. Wanting the conversation to remain private as he absorbed the news, he quickly found a quiet spot. “I ran around the corner so no one would hear me,” he added.

An unexpected question from the coach

The conversation wasn’t entirely formal. Since Ouedraogo was enjoying his vacation with friends, Nagelsmann decided to add a touch of humour — or perhaps confirm that the young player was fully aware of what was happening. “He even asked me if I was drunk,” Ouedraogo said with a laugh. The midfielder, however, responded immediately and seriously.

He assured his coach that there was nothing to worry about. “I don’t drink anyway, and I immediately said: Everything’s fine,” he explained.

Disbelief at home and a race against time

After ending the call with Nagelsmann, Ouedraogo wanted to share the news with his family right away. However, reaching them was not as easy as he expected. “The first person I called was my older sister, but she didn’t believe me at first,” he recalled, laughing about his family’s initial disbelief.

From that point, the young professional faced a logistical dash. Instead of continuing his holiday, he immediately made arrangements to return home. “I flew straight back from my vacation to Germany to pick up my football boots. Apart from that, I already had everything I needed,” he said.

Career-best season despite injuries

Even though he has faced a few injury setbacks in recent months, Ouedraogo remains extremely positive about his progress. He views his World Cup selection as the highlight of what he considers the best season of his career so far. The midfielder feels fully prepared to contribute to Nagelsmann’s side on the world stage.

“I’m in top form,” the Leipzig player declared with confidence. Reflecting on his achievements, he added, “Despite the injuries, this is the best season of my life.”

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