BARCELONA (FN), Spain forward Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of Barcelona’s season with a hamstring injury but is expected to recover in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Spanish federation said Wednesday.
Yamal, 18, pulled up clutching his left leg moments after scoring a penalty in Barcelona’s 1–0 win over Celta Vigo on April 22. Tests later confirmed a tear in the biceps femoris muscle. The teenager will undergo a conservative recovery program and is projected to return in five to six weeks, ruling him out of Barcelona’s final six La Liga matches, including the May 10 El Clásico against Real Madrid.
Despite the setback, Spain remains optimistic. The defending European champions open their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta. Yamal, who starred at Euro 2024 with a goal and seven assists, is widely regarded as the centerpiece of Spain’s attack. “His progress will be monitored closely, but all indications are that he will be ready for the tournament,” coach Luis de la Fuente said in a statement.
Major tournaments have often been shaped by injuries to star players. Germany’s Marco Reus missed the 2014 World Cup with an ankle ligament tear, though his team went on to lift the trophy. Colombia’s Radamel Falcao was sidelined by an ACL injury that same year, depriving his country of its talisman. Michael Ballack’s absence in 2010 left Germany without its captain, while Brazil’s Ronaldo overcame knee problems to inspire his nation’s 2002 triumph. Unlike those cases, Yamal’s injury is considered less severe, and Spain is hopeful he will regain match sharpness before the group stage concludes. Still, hamstring tears carry a risk of recurrence, and the federation is expected to manage his minutes carefully.
Barcelona will finish the season without their brightest young star, but Spain anticipates Yamal’s return just in time for the World Cup. His recovery could determine whether La Roja sustain their momentum from Euro 2024 and mount a serious challenge for global glory.
