Lamine Yamal injury update offers Spain World Cup hope | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal is set to be sidelined for the remainder of the season but should be fit for this summer’s World Cup, according to his club side Barcelona.

Spain were left sweating on the injury status of their young superstar after he was forced off during Barca’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in LaLiga on Wednesday evening.

The 18-year-old had scored the only goal of the game by confidently dispatching a 40th-minute penalty into the bottom right-hand corner but pulled up just as he went to wheel away in celebration, immediately signalling something to the bench before collapsing to the ground and holding the back of his left leg.

He was swiftly replaced by Roony Bardghji and the worst was feared with rumours of severe hamstring injury, as he quickly underwent scans to confirm the severity of the issue.

On Thursday afternoon, Barcelona posted an update on his condition, suggesting returning in time for the World Cup was very much still on the cards – even if his club season is over.

“The tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle),” read the Barca statement.

“The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, and he is expected to be available for the World Cup.”

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Lamine Yamal had scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot (AP)

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But then was carted off the pitch in a great deal of pain (AP)

Barcelona currently have a nine-point lead over Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga as they look to defend the title they won last year, although their Champions League dream is over after being beaten 3-2 on aggregate by Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

It is a little over seven weeks until Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June, which would be enough time for a minor hamstring tear to heal, with a prognosis of around five weeks the norm in that situation.

La Roja will be desperate to have their teenage talisman available after he helped them to glory at Euro 2024 as a 16-year-old – and was named the young player of the tournament in the process. Spain have won the World Cup just once in their history – back in 2010.

Yamal is not the only young talent to suffer a hamstring issue, with Chelsea’s Brazilian star Estevao also a doubt to make the World Cup after picking up his own hamstring injury last weekend.