Lamine Yamal’s superb season ended on Wednesday April 22. The 18-year-old FC Barcelona phenomenon scored his 16th goal of the season in La Liga from the penalty spot against Celta de Vigo (1-0) but gave himself, in his shot, a tear in one of the hamstring muscles of his left leg. After shaking the net, he quickly stopped during his celebration to lie down on the ground before leaving the field and limping to the locker room.
The left-handed dribbler’s muscle injury is not very serious but the Blaugranas announced, in a press release, that their number 10 was out for the rest of the season and that he will resume for the 2026 World Cup in North America. He will miss the Clasico on May 10 at Camp Nou, which could crown Hansi Flick’s team. Lamine Yamal would be able to resume in three weeks to play the last La Liga match against Valencia on May 24, but its leaders do not want to take any risks.
Lamine Yamal deprived of Spain-Cape Verde?
Sports director Deco and his deputy Bojan Krkic Pérez met with physiotherapists and a plan was drawn up. Barça hopes that Lamine Yamal will continue his smooth recovery with the Spanish team before the 2026 World Cup. The Spanish federation could even agree to spare the right winger by not having him play against Peru in a friendly match, on June 8, then in the first match of the tournament against Cape Verde, on the 15th in Atlanta.
La Roja, European champion, will face Saudi Arabia on June 21, still in Atlanta, before a shock against Uruguay led by Marcelo Bielsa, on the 26 in Guadalajara. Luis de la Fuente is used to composing without his 18-year-old prodigy, who missed several gatherings in 2025.
