Lamine Yamal suffered a serious injury during Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga win over Celta Vigo at Camp Nou on Spotify, with early medical assessment confirming he has suffered a torn hamstring, which could rule him out for the rest of the season and put his participation in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup in doubt if his recovery takes a long time. The 18-year-old collapsed shortly after scoring the winning penalty and further tests the next day raised concerns about Barcelona’s title bid and his ability to feature for Spain.
How the injury occurred
The incident occurred in the 39th minute of Wednesday night’s game. Yamal took the penalty to give Barcelona the lead but stopped moments later clutching the back of his thigh in apparent discomfort. Barcelona’s medical staff assessed him on the pitch and immediately decided to replace him, with Rooney Baddji taking his place. initial Indications He likely suffered a torn hamstring after the game, sparking concerns that his season could be over.
Medical updates and current conditions
These concerns have now been confirmed by the club. in a official statementBarcelona said: “Tests carried out confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has suffered an injury to the hamstring (biceps femoris) of his left leg.“The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season and is expected to be able to participate in the World Cup.”This follows an earlier report on Carrousel by journalist Santi Ovalle, who described the situation as serious and said the player was “badly injured” and “doesn’t look good” pending a full diagnosis.Renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano further clarified the timetable, writing on X: “Lamin Yamal will miss the rest of Barcelona’s season with a hamstring injury. He is expected to return in time for the World Cup. “
Impact on Barcelona’s season
That schedule will come at a critical stage of the season. Barcelona have just six La Liga games remaining and Yamal is now expected to miss key fixtures, including the El Clasico against Real Madrid scheduled for May 10. The club currently sit nine points clear at the top of La Liga, but Yamal’s absence leaves them without their most consistent attacking outlet at a decisive moment of the season. He has been Barcelona’s most influential player this season, with 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions, and his absence means a clear tactical setback.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal lies on the field in pain during the La Liga football match between FC Barcelona and Celta Vigo on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
The situation was further complicated in the same game when defender Joao Cancelo also suffered a knee injury.
Impact of the World Cup on Spain
The timing of the injury also affected Spain’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup fifa world cup. The competition is scheduled to start on June 11, just a few weeks away, with Spain taking on Cape Verde on June 15.With Barcelona confirming that Yamal is expected to recover in time for the game and Romano reinforcing that timetable, his participation is no longer in doubt, although he may arrive in limited match fitness after missing the remainder of the club’s season.
status quo
Barcelona have confirmed the exact nature of Yamal’s injury and ruled him out for the remainder of the season while insisting he is expected to return in time for the World Cup.With six league games remaining and a major international break looming, his absence will still have a significant impact on Barcelona’s run-in, although attention has shifted to ensuring he is fully fit for Spain this summer.
