Lamine Yamal returned from injury while scoring the winning goal in Barcelona’s La Liga victory over Celta Vigo.
Published April 23, 2026
A team that was consensus favorites to win the World Cup could be in danger of losing their top attacking option after Spanish forward Lamine Yamal was injured while playing for Barcelona in Wednesday’s La Liga match.
According to reports, club officials believe Yamal has suffered a torn hamstring, but the full prognosis will not be known until he undergoes tests on Thursday.
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The 18-year-old superstar drew a foul and earned a penalty, which Yamal stepped up to score in the 40th minute against visiting Celta Vigo. But once the ball hit the net, Yamal didn’t celebrate. Instead, he went down injured clutching his left hamstring.
“We have to wait,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said after the match. “You have to see what it is. There is something. He felt it. After the goal he was not going to leave the pitch for no reason.
“It’s something. Something happened. I hope it’s not too bad, but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
According to ESPN, midfielder Pedri, Yamal’s teammate at Barça and the Spanish national team, said: “I hope Lamine will only be out for a few weeks. I wish him the best. He is still young, so he has to stay calm and I’m sure he will recover well.”
The goal was Yamal’s 16th in 28 La Liga games this season (24th in 45 games in all competitions) and led Barcelona to a 1-0 victory. The result leaves Barcelona nine points behind second-placed Real Madrid in the league standings, with Barca on track to win the league title regardless of Yamal’s health.
The bigger question is whether this injury will affect Spain’s chances at this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Spain is scheduled to play Cape Verde in Group H in Atlanta on June 15, Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 26 in Zapopan, Mexico.
Spain won UEFA Euro 2024, thanks in part to the contributions of then-16-year-old Yamal. A sublime playmaker and finisher, Yamal has scored six goals in 25 appearances for the Spanish national team.
