Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, dealing a significant setback to the club as they push for the La Liga title. However, there was some relief for Spain, as the club also clarified that his injury is not expected to rule him out of the upcoming World Cup.
The 18-year-old is expected to be sidelined for around four to six weeks, meaning he could potentially return by June 6—just over a week before Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta. Yamal expressed disappointment over the injury, but the news that his tournament participation is not in immediate danger will come as a boost for Spain.
However, concerns remain over his full recovery. Sports doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll, speaking on Cadena SER, warned that while the timeline suggests a return to training within weeks, full match readiness at elite level typically requires a longer ramp-up, including multiple training sessions. He suggested Yamal could realistically miss Spain’s opening World Cup match, with a possible return for later group games against Saudi Arabia (June 21) and Uruguay (June 27).
Ripoll also highlighted a broader issue at Barcelona, noting the club’s recurring hamstring injuries this season. He explained that this type of injury carries an inherent relapse risk of about 30%, which has been even higher at Barcelona this year. According to him, nine players have suffered similar injuries this season, and six of those cases ended in recurrence.
He pointed to Raphinha as a key example, with the Brazilian winger experiencing multiple hamstring setbacks, including a relapse during his recovery period—an issue that has significantly impacted Hansi Flick’s squad throughout the campaign.