Look Sports Media – Bayern Munich, the iconic German football club, has thrown its support behind China’s LPL teams at the League of Legends World Championship 2025, creating a stir in the esports community. A video posted by the LPL showcased Bayern stars Konrad Laimer and legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sending good luck messages to the competing LPL squads, with the Worlds anthem "Sacrifice" by G.E.M and Anyma providing the backdrop.
The timing of this endorsement raised eyebrows, especially considering the lack of similar support for Europe’s G2 Esports ahead of their crucial quarterfinal match against LPL’s Top Esports (TES). As fate would have it, Bayern’s apparent allegiance proved prescient, as TES decisively defeated G2, eliminating the last hope for the LEC region.
G2 struggled to contain Atakhan, and TES capitalized on every misstep, securing a 3-1 victory in front of a roaring home crowd. With TES advancing to the semifinals and Anyone’s Legend (AL) set to face T1, the LPL is poised to potentially dominate the final stages of the tournament.
Related Post
In their messages, the Bayern players expressed admiration for the LPL’s passion and enthusiasm. Neuer drew parallels between the LPL spirit and Bayern’s motto, "Mia San Mia" (we are ourselves), while Laimer offered personalized shout-outs to TES’s Yu "JackeyLove" Wen-Bo and AL’s Cui "Shanks" Xiao-Jun.
The inclusion of Shanks in Laimer’s message was particularly noteworthy, given the midlaner’s recent controversy involving online harassment and insults, which resulted in a significant fine.
The sudden display of support from Bayern Munich, a club with no prior involvement in League of Legends, sparked questions about the underlying motivations. While another German football club, Schalke 04, previously ventured into the LoL esports scene, Bayern’s move appears to be strategically aligned with its efforts to expand its brand in the Asian market.
As looksports.media previously reported, other football clubs like PSG are investing in esports to promote their brand in Asian markets. Bayern Munich’s presence in Asia is substantial, with offices in Bangkok, Seoul, and Shanghai. The club claims that Asia accounts for the largest share of its official membership subscribers, online sales, and merchandise revenue.
Leave a Comment