A major update has emerged over Lamine Yamal’s injury following a freak incident during Barcelona’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday night.
Yamal, the world’s best young footballer who is a strong early contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, injured himself while scoring the only goal of the game from the penalty spot.
The 18-year-old immediately signalled to the dugout that something was wrong after converting the spot-kick. He went down inside the box and was subbed off for Roony Bardghji when it became clear he couldn’t continue.
The Spain international was able to hobble down the tunnel as he made his way back to the Camp Nou home dressing room. Clearly in a lot of discomfort, the incident raised fears that Yamal could be sidelined for weeks - if not months - with the 2026 World Cup finals just around the corner.
Latest Update Over Lamine Yamal's Injury
Lamine Yamal Barcelona injury
Lamine Yamal Barcelona injury
After the match, ESPN’s Gemma Soler revealed that Yamal has suffered a suspected torn hamstring. If accurate, this means the teenager will almost certainly miss the remainder of Barcelona’s 2025-26 campaign. It would also leave him at risk of missing the start of this summer’s World Cup. Watch footage of the incident in the clip below:
Spain begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15. The 2010 world champions will also face Saudi Arabia (June 21) and Uruguay (June 26) in Group H.
Barcelona club sources, per ESPN, confirm the initial indication is a torn hamstring. However, the severity of the tear and the length of time Yamal is likely to be sidelined for will be confirmed after scans on Thursday, once the swelling has gone down.
"We have to wait," Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told reporters after Wednesday’s match. "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."
It’s suggested that a Grade 1 tear would only keep Yamal out for between one and three weeks. A Grade 2 tear would leave him sidelined for four to eight weeks. But a Grade 3 tear could rule him out of the World Cup entirely, with an estimated recovery time of between three and six months.
Yamal has been in scintillating form for Barcelona again this season, scoring 24 goals and registered a further 18 assists in 45 appearances.
Barca were recently eliminated from the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Atletico Madrid; however, a nine-point cushion over second-placed Real Madrid with six games to go means they should end the campaign with another La Liga title.