Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury in his left leg but is expected to be available for this year’s World Cup, Spanish side Barcelona said Thursday.
Yamal hobbled off the pitch during Wednesday’s 1-0 league victory over Celta Vigo — when the 18-year-old netted his side a penalty winner.
Barcelona posted on X: “Tests carried out have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has a hamstring injury in his left leg (biceps femoris muscle).”
The player has been treated conservatively to follow a treatment plan in line with previous episodes. Yamal, who will miss the rest of the season, should be fit for the World Cup.
Spain opens their World Cup schedule with a Group H match against Cape Verde, scheduled June 15.
His 16 goals lead Barcelona in LaLiga this season, and Yamal — who has suffered a variety of muscle injuries that have ruled him out for several times this season — is doing his best to astound us even more. He has scored in his previous three outings for the club across all competitions.
Last year, he also assisted three times in two appearances for Spain in the World Cup qualifiers.
On his social media accounts, Yamal wrote: “I’m not going to sugarcoat it — this injury is keeping me off the pitch just when I wanted to be there the most and that hurts more than I can describe.”
Not being able to fight alongside my teammates, not being able to help when the team needs me is what hurts… But I’ll be there, even if it’s from the sidelines supporting cheering and pushing them on just like one of the lads.
“It’s not over, it’s just a pause in time. I’ll be back stronger and more determined than any time before, and next season is going to be even better.”
Barcelona, who sit nine points clear atop the Spanish table, travels to Getafe on Saturday.