Barcelona have announced that Lamine Yamal’s season in Spain has ended, but the international forward is fit to represent his country at this summer’s World Cup.
The 18-year-old striker helped Spain win the Euro 2024 title and also won La Liga with Barça last season.
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His side are on track to defend their title with a nine-point lead over Real Madrid, but they will have to do it without their iconic star player.
Al Jazeera Sports looks at how Yamal’s injury made global headlines after Wednesday’s soccer match, and what the path to the 2026 World Cup will look like for the Catalan player.
What happened to Lamine Yamal?
Barcelona looked to re-establish their nine-point advantage over Real when they faced Celta Vigo on Wednesday, April 22nd.
Although the stalemate has not yet been broken, Yamal earned his team a penalty and scored it.
However, right after hitting the ball, he crouched on the ground in pain and was immediately substituted.
This blow would prove to be enough for Barça to secure a 1-0 victory, but it would come at a certain price.
What is Lamine Yamal’s injury?
Rumors were swirling until Thursday morning that Yamal’s participation in Spain’s World Cup squad this summer was in jeopardy.
His early exit from Barça’s victory suggested the injury was serious enough to keep him out for at least a few weeks.
However, the Catalan club confirmed in a statement on Thursday that the injury was a hamstring injury and, as a result, he will no longer be involved in the club’s title defense with six games remaining.
How bad is Lamine Yamal’s injury?
A statement from Barcelona, first posted on social media platform
Such injuries are classified into three grades: mild, moderate, or severe injury/injury.
Recovery period ranges from 1 week to 6 months.
“The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season but is expected to be available for the World Cup,” Barcelona’s statement concluded.
Considering Spain’s season continues for four more weeks until May 24, Yamal is likely to be at least moderately burdened.
This type of injury takes 4 to 6 weeks to recover.
Is Lamine Yamal fit for Spain’s World Cup opener?
It was not made clear in Barcelona’s statement on Thursday how long the recovery period is expected to be, as the World Cup begins on June 11, with opening matches between Mexico and South Africa scheduled.
Spain’s first match will be against Cape Verde four days later. They will then face Saudi Arabia on June 21st, and close out the opening stages of the group with a potentially decisive match against Uruguay on June 27th.
It remains to be seen whether Yamal will be available for the season opener on June 15, just seven and a half weeks after his injury.
The final group stage match came just over nine weeks after the now infamous penalty shootout against Celta. This exceeds the expected longest recovery period for moderate strains by more than a week.
Why is Lamine Yamal so important to Spain?
Yamal was an integral part of Spain’s side, which clinched the Euro 2024 title with a 2-1 win over England.
He was only 16 years old at the time, but his speed and dexterity with the ball made him one of the most notable players in world football.
In the semi-final against France, his stock rose dramatically with his now trademark impressive curling shot from outside the box.
Despite Yamal’s young age, he has already made 25 appearances for the Spanish national team, scoring a total of six goals.
Did Lamine Yamal give an update after his injury?
“This injury kept me off the pitch when I wanted to be on it the most. It hurts more than words can describe,” Yamal wrote on his social media accounts on Thursday.
“It’s tough not being able to play alongside my teammates and help my team when they need me, but I’ll be there supporting them, cheering them on, and pushing them like I’m one of them, even if it’s from the sideline.
“This is not the end, it’s just a break. I’ll come back stronger and more determined than ever, and next season will be a better season.”
How well has Lamine Yamal done for Barcelona this season?
A year after winning Euro 2024, Yamal helped his native Barcelona to victory over Real Madrid in a close game where both teams were separated by just four points, clinching their first La Liga title.
Yamal scored 18 goals that season, including three goals in the final four games of the La Liga season.
The penalty against Celta was Barcelona’s 24th goal of the season, with the team still having six games left.
