Spain and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has suffered a hamstring injury but is expected to recover in time for the upcoming World Cup, his club has confirmed.
Barcelona announced on Thursday that medical tests had revealed a hamstring problem in the teenager’s left leg. The 18-year-old will undergo conservative treatment and miss the remainder of the club season, though he should be available for the World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 19 July.
Spain begin their Group H campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June, followed by fixtures against Saudi Arabia (21 June) and Uruguay (27 June).
Yamal sustained the injury during Barcelona’s 1-0 victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Wednesday. After winning and converting a decisive penalty, he immediately signalled for treatment and lay on the turf as teammates celebrated around him. He was replaced by Roony Bardghji.
“This injury is going to keep me off the pitch just when I wanted to be there the most, and that hurts even more than I can put into words,” Yamal wrote on social media.
“This isn’t the end; it’s just a break. I’ll come back stronger, with even more determination than ever, and next season will be better.”
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said: “He wouldn’t leave the pitch without reason. As a coach you have to manage it; you have to live with it. It’s a pity that Lamine is injured now.”
The victory moved Barcelona nine points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table, with six matches remaining including a Clásico on 10 May. Yamal is the club’s leading scorer this season with 24 goals, despite having missed time in September and October with a groin issue.
A key figure in Spain’s triumphant Euro 2024 campaign, Yamal spoke earlier this week of his excitement for the World Cup.
“Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve dreamed of playing in a World Cup, of seeing my mum in the stands, of representing the national team,” he said at the Laureus World Sports Awards. “These two months will seem very short to me, and I hope we’ll finish as champions.”
There is little doubt that Spain manager Luis de la Fuente will include Yamal in his final squad, even if he is not fully match-fit. He joins a list of key Spanish internationals sidelined or returning from injury, including Rodri, Fabián Ruiz, Mikel Merino and Nico Williams. Given the risk of aggravating the injury, Yamal could be rested during the early stages of the tournament.
