Lamine Yamal injury update: Latest news as Spain star has World Cup worry after taking Barcelona penalty originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is drawing ever closer, and as the 2025/26 club season nears a conclusion, players and fans are hoping their favorite superstars can remain healthy and fit for action this coming summer.
In that regard, there has been a significant scare as Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, who recently led the Spain national team to European Championship glory two years ago along a stratospheric rise to international stardom, has suffered an injury.
Having appeared to hurt his hamstring while playing for Barcelona in mid-April, fans around the world will hope he can return in time not only to help complete Barcelona's push for a La Liga title, but notably for the World Cup, which begins on June 11.
The Sporting News brings you the latest on Lamine's injury and how long it could potentially keep him out, with the World Cup very much in question for the 18-year-old.
MORE:Latest Barcelona team news and injury updates ahead of their next match
Lamine Yamal was forced off injured near the end of the first half in Barcelona's match on April 22 against Celta Vigo.
Lamine deposited a 39th-minute penalty and immediately held his finger up to signal to the bench that he had injured himself, proceeding to lie on his back as he was treated by medical staff at the Nou Camp.
It appeared to be a hamstring issue, as he received treatment on his dominant left leg with which he took the penalty.
It was a significant worry ,not just for Barcelona, who are in the hunt for the La Liga title, but for the Spanish national team as well.
It's unclear how much time Lamine Yamal will miss until tests have been completed, but there is a worry that he could miss a number of matches for Barcelona.
A Grade 1 hamstring strain would see him miss just a week or two, with matches against Getafe and Osasuna to come next on Barcelona's fixture list.
If the injury were worse, a Grade 2 hamstring strain would see him sidelined for four to six weeks, which would mean his Barcelona campaign is done but the World Cup could be in play.
The worst-case scenario would be a Grade 3 hamstring strain, which is a full tear of the muscle. This would almost certainly require surgery, and could keep him out of the FIFA World Cup.
Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente and La Roja fans will be holding their collective breath while tests are conducted on the injury to Lamine Yamal.
If the injury is minor, Lamine would be able to return over the next few weeks and should be fit to participate in the World Cup.
If, however, the injury is of the more serious variety, he would be unlikely to participate in the World Cup, which would be an extremely significant blow to Spain's chances of making a deep run in the competition.
Earlier in the same day, news had been announced that Chelsea youngster Estevao had suffered a serious hamstring injury, reportedly a "near-complete tear," which has put his own World Cup hopes in significant doubt.