[SPOTV News reporter Park Daesung] Lamine Yamal, 18, has suffered a hamstring injury that could sideline him in the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup in North America. The setback is a major blow for title-chasing Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
European transfer-market specialist Fabrizio Romano said on April 23 (KST) that “Yamal will miss the remainder of the 2025–26 season with a hamstring injury. Yamal hopes to return in time for the World Cup.”
The injury report quickly spread across Europe. The BBC said Yamal was hurt immediately after converting a penalty that sealed a narrow win over Celta Vigo and pushed Barcelona’s LaLiga lead to nine points. According to the report, he won the penalty in the 40th minute after drawing a foul from Yoel Rago, converted it, then signaled to the bench, grabbed his left hamstring and collapsed to the turf. Team doctors helped him off and he headed straight for the tunnel.
Barcelona sit top of LaLiga with 27 wins, 1 draw and 4 losses in 32 matches (82 points), nine points clear of second-place Real Madrid (73 points). While the gap looks comfortable, six matches remain — including the El Clásico against Real Madrid on May 11 — and losing a player of Yamal’s caliber is a potentially decisive complication.
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Hamstring injuries vary widely in recovery time depending on the severity. A mild strain can require two to three weeks of recovery, while more serious tears can mean two months or longer of rehabilitation.
The news is equally alarming for Spain. Despite his age, Yamal became a core figure in Spain’s 2024 title run, using his pace from the right flank and creative instincts to grow into an indispensable tactical piece. Had he hit peak form by the World Cup, some analysts even suggested he could be in Ballon d’Or conversations.
That said, the injury may not be entirely surprising given his workload. After debuting as a seven-minute substitute in a 2023 home match against Real Betis, Yamal exploded onto the scene. In three seasons he has already played a brutal schedule — more than 100 matches for Barcelona alone, totaling 151 appearances — and that figure rises further when national-team duties are included.
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Transfermarkt currently projects Yamal’s return date as May 31, which would allow roughly 39 days for recovery andrehab. Outside of a 32-day layoff during his youth in 2022, he had not missed more than 30 days through injury in his professional career. Until now, his issues were limited to minor muscle, ankle, groin and pubic bone complaints — this is his first hamstring problem.
Teammate Pedri spoke after the match, expressing disappointment and hope. “I hope Yamal’s injury is only a few weeks,” Pedri said. “He’ll have scans tomorrow, so we’ll wait for the results. I wish him the best and hope he stays calm. He’s young and he’ll recover.”
Both Barcelona and Yamal are awaiting detailed scan results. If the hamstring is seriously torn, Barcelona may need to rework its attacking plans for the title run-in, and Spain could face similar tactical adjustments. An 18-year-old still in high school has become a central figure in world football; with the biggest stage approaching, all eyes are on how he will navigate the biggest challenge of his young career.
