Barcelona's Lamine Yamal will not participate in the remainder of the domestic season due to a hamstring injury, but the club anticipates his availability for the upcoming World Cup. The 18-year-old sustained the injury while scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win against Celta Vigo. Following medical evaluation, Barcelona released a statement confirming the injury and outlining a conservative treatment plan. Although Yamal will miss the rest of the league season, he is expected to recover in time for the World Cup, which commences on June 11.
This season, Yamal has been instrumental for Barcelona, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists in 28 LaLiga games, and adding six goals and four assists in 10 Champions League appearances. He also plays a crucial role for the Spanish national team, having been named young player of the tournament in the Euro 2024 campaign and scoring six goals in 25 appearances. While Spain expects Yamal to be available for the World Cup, Barcelona must continue their pursuit of LaLiga glory without him. The team currently holds a nine-point lead over Real Madrid with six games remaining, following their win over Celta Vigo.
Yamal's absence will be felt, particularly in the upcoming Clásico against Real Madrid on May 10. Spain's first group game in the World Cup is scheduled against Cape Verde on June 15, and the team hopes Yamal will have recovered by then.