With the 2026 World Cup approaching, the Spanish national team faces a major setback following an injury to Barcelona star Lamine Yamal during a La Liga match against Celta Vigo.
The 18-year-old was forced off in the 40th minute, immediately after scoring the winning penalty, due to pain in his left hamstring.
Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images
While official scans were scheduled for Thursday, April 23, initial assessments confirmed a tear that will likely sideline him for the remainder of Barcelona's season.
Will Lamine Yamal Miss the 2026 World Cup?
According to initial reports from ESPN, sources within the club suggested that Lamine Yamal has suffered a torn hamstring.
While the initial diagnosis is concerning, the exact severity of the tear and how long he will be out of action remained unclear immediately after the injury.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick shared a similar update during his post-match comments.
"We have to wait," he said. "We have to see what it is. There is something. He felt it. After the goal, he would not leave the pitch without reason. So it's something. Something happened. Hopefully it's not so bad, but we have to wait until tomorrow."
As per an official update by Barcelona, the club confirmed that the forward will miss the remainder of the season but will be ready for the World Cup.
"The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. He will miss the remainder of the league season but is expected to be available for the World Cup," the statement read.
The recovery timeline depends entirely on the severity of the injury. In the best-case scenario, a Grade 1 tear would allow him to return for the end of the La Liga season on May 24 and be completely ready for the World Cup.
A Grade 2 tear makes things much more difficult, as he would likely miss most of the group stage and struggle to be ready for the opening match on June 15.
The worst-case scenario, which seems highly unlikely at the moment, involves a Grade 3 tear or a need for surgery, which would unfortunately rule him out of the entire tournament.
