A360
Key Takeaways✦ Atlas AI
01
Lamine Yamal suffered a suspected hamstring injury while scoring a penalty for Barcelona.
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The injury raises concerns about his participation in the World Cup for Spain.
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Yamal has been a significant contributor for both his club and country this season.
Atlas AI
Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal suffered an injury during a La Liga match on Wednesday, creating uncertainty over his availability for Spain at the World Cup this summer in North America.
Reports said club officials believe the 18-year-old sustained a torn hamstring, but a definitive assessment was not available immediately. A full prognosis is expected after he undergoes scans on Thursday.
The incident came in Barcelona’s home game against visiting Celta Vigo. Yamal drew a foul that resulted in a penalty kick, which he took himself and converted in the 40th minute. After the ball went in, he did not celebrate and instead went down holding his left hamstring.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said the team would need to wait for the medical evaluation. “We have to wait,” Flick said after the match, adding that Yamal “felt it” and that “something happened,” while expressing hope that the issue is not serious.
Midfielder Pedri, who plays alongside Yamal for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, said he hoped the forward would be sidelined only briefly. Pedri said he wished Yamal “the best of luck” and added that he should remain calm because he is young and “will surely recover well.”
Yamal’s penalty proved decisive in a 1-0 win, and it also added to a standout season. The goal was his 16th in 28 La Liga matches this season, and his 24th in 45 games across all competitions.
The victory left Barcelona nine points clear of second-place Real Madrid, keeping the club firmly on track to win the league title regardless of Yamal’s health. The more immediate uncertainty centers on Spain’s plans for the World Cup, where Yamal has been a key attacking option.
Spain are scheduled to open their Group H campaign on June 15 against Cape Verde and then face Saudi Arabia on June 21, with both matches set for Atlanta. They are due to play Uruguay on June 26 in Zapopan, Mexico.
Spain won UEFA Euro 2024, with Yamal contributing as a then-16-year-old. He has six goals in 25 career appearances for the Spanish national team, and his status will become clearer once Barcelona receives the scan results.
