A “dream” on hold: FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal, injured in the left thigh, will embark on a race against time to compete in his first World Cup this summer with Spain, whose favorite status depends greatly on his presence.
The 18-year-old winger, who was injured on Wednesday while scoring a penalty against Celta Vigo (1-0), is affected in the “biceps femoris” of the left thigh according to his club, an injury which requires several weeks of stopping.
Yamal, star of the Spanish selection, “will miss the rest of the season”, specifies Barça, but should be “available” to play his first World Cup this summer (June 11-July 19) in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The young left-hander, European champion in 2024 with La Roja, said he was “impatient” on Monday during the Laureus Sports Awards ceremony, a few weeks before the start of the tournament: “Since I was little, I have dreamed of participating in a World Cup, of seeing my mother in the stands, representing the national team… These two months will seem very short to me and I hope that we will end up champions”.
To make this wish come true, Yamal, who is one of the most anticipated players at this North American World Cup, will follow “conservative treatment” (without surgery) to be returned in time for Spain’s first match in the tournament, scheduled for June 15 against Cape Verde.
Risk of relapse
His presence in the final list of coach Luis De la Fuente, even if he is not yet 100% recovered, is hardly in doubt.
The Catalan phenomenon’s injury, however, adds to uncertainties concerning several major players currently injured, in the midst of rehabilitation or who have only just returned to the field: Rodri (Manchester City), Fabian Ruiz (PSG), Mikel Merino (Arsenal) and Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao).
If he is on the list, the young No.10 could however be preserved at the start of the tournament, facing affordable opponents in group H (Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, Uruguay) and given the significant risk of relapse of this type of muscle injury.
Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll, frequently interviewed in the media, estimated the recurrence rate of this injury at “30%” on Cadena Ser radio and called on Yamal to be “very careful” in his recovery.
Fundamental at Barça
In the meantime, FC Barcelona, eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, will therefore have to do without its best player to preserve its nine points lead over Real Madrid and retain its title of champion of Spain.
Already hampered in the first part of the season by pubalgia, Yamal, 2nd in the Ballon d’Or last year, has taken on a new dimension with the Catalan giant, of which he is the top scorer and best passer, with 24 goals and 20 assists in all competitions, including 15 since January.
Deprived of his attacking partner Raphinha, and with Robert Lewandowski on the decline, the Barcelona dribbler had just put together very high-level performances, affirming that he had rediscovered “the pleasure” of playing after months of fighting against these recurring pains.
He will have to be patient, once again, to hope to hold his place among the world stars who will meet in New York on July 19 for the final.
