Lamine Yamal is expected to miss the rest of Barcelona’s domestic season after suffering a hamstring injury during Wednesday’s 1-0 La Liga win over Celta Vigo.
The 18-year-old scored the winning penalty but immediately clutched the back of his left leg and signaled to the bench before being substituted. Barcelona manager Hansi Flick said the club would wait for scan results to determine the full extent of the problem.
Early medical assessments indicate the injury affects the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg, with Barcelona opting for conservative treatment rather than surgery.
Club sources believe the recovery timeline should rule him out of the remaining league fixtures, but not the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in June in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The news offers relief for Spain, who view Yamal as a key part of their World Cup plans despite concerns immediately after the incident that he could miss the tournament.
While his absence is a setback for Barcelona’s title run, current projections suggest he should have enough time to regain fitness and be available for Spain’s opening group match.
