The 2026 World Cup was supposed to be another milestone in Lamine Yamal's path to becoming a superstar, but there is a real threat that injury could deprive one of its biggest names of the tournament. The Spanish prodigy caught everyone's attention during Euro 2024 and, two years later, the 18-year-old looked ready to shine again. However, now it may be a matter of waiting. Yamal suffered a muscle injury towards the end of another successful La Liga campaign with Barcelona. Something that seemed innocuous turned out to be much more serious, putting his participation in the World Cup at risk.
Fans breathed a sigh of relief when the winger was included in Spain's 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament, but the level of influence he could have is still shrouded in uncertainty. La Roja are desperate to call on their talismanic striker when the competition intensifies, but will the World Cup come too soon for us to see one of the event's potential stars at his best?
Yamal's injury occurred shortly after scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot against Celta Vigo on 22 April, at which point he signaled to the bench and fell to the ground as his team-mates' joy quickly turned to concern. He has not played since, with reports at the time indicating that Barça feared he had torn his left hamstring. This would require a recovery time of up to eight weeks, with no guarantee that he would be fit to compete afterwards.
However, the culés insisted he would be ready for the World Cup, highlighting Yamal's importance to Spain's cause. The club said at the time: "Scans have confirmed that first-team player Lamine Yamal has suffered a left hamstring injury. The player will follow a conservative treatment plan. He will miss the remainder of the season but is expected to be available for the World Cup." That was the latest hit in a season already marred by injuries for the teenager, despite his young age. Yamal also missed five games early in the campaign due to pubalgia – a chronic groin problem that has also affected Chelsea ace Cole Palmer for much of the 2025-26 season. Often called a sports hernia, the injury typically affects athletes who make explosive movements, such as agile wingers. Younger players who have recently transitioned to professional football may also be more susceptible.
Yamal was, in fact, at the center of a dispute between the club and the national team in September, after having worsened the problem while with the Spanish national team, who were accused of not "taking care" of the winger. He was subsequently removed from the November internship. Barcelona does not want to repeat this situation, even in the World Cup.
At the end of May, there was a significant update on Yamal's latest injury when he shared a video of himself back on the pitch and already working with the ball at Barcelona's training base. To answer any questions about his form, the images show the striker heeling a training dummy before passing the ball. The post was published two days after Yamal was predictably named in Spain's World Cup squad despite doubts over his fitness, with almost three weeks still until La Roja begin their campaign against Cape Verde on June 15.
World Cup history is littered with cases of coaches taking risks with key but unfit players, and Yamal looks set to be one of the most significant risks in recent memory. It is reported that he could still miss out until the third and final group stage game in North America, which is against Uruguay on June 27. According to Mundo Deportivo, there was constant dialogue between doctors at Barcelona and the Spanish federation, who reached a consensus that the teenager should not be risked in the first two matches of the tournament. However, Spanish coach De la Fuente has previously suggested that he hopes to rely on Yamal and others from the start. "I think we will have Lamine, Nico [Williams] and Mikel [Merino] available for the first game of the World Cup, and if not, we will have them for the second or third. It doesn't cause any major problems," he said at a press conference. "Injuries are putting pressure on us. Any injury that occurs now, even if minor, is difficult to recover from."
It remains to be seen how big the impact of Yamal's prolonged absence would be. Spain must still be confident of emerging Group H winners without their prodigy, and with some comfort. The European champions received a favorable draw in the group stage, facing Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia before the relatively tougher test against Uruguay, when Yamal should be fit to take part. There should be enough cover in La Roja's squad to progress without him initially; Versatile Crystal Palace striker Yeremy Pino could be asked to deputize on the right side, while Osasuna player Victor Munoz could also play in that position. However, the situation is complicated by the fact that left winger Nico Williams is also about to return from a thigh problem. However, Spain should still have enough arsenal to survive without their first-choice wingers. De la Fuente selected many players who can cover multiple positions, including Atlético Madrid's Alex Baena and Real Sociedad's Mikel Oyarzabal. However, Spain will certainly want to see Yamal back in action for the knockout stages. They will likely face the runners-up in Group J in the round of 32, which presents a stern test against Austria or Algeria, unless Argentina slip up and create a Lionel Messi reunion story. Croatia or Colombia would likely wait in the round of 16, before a quarter-final against perennial surprise contenders Belgium. The odds are that De la Fuente's men would face France in a mammoth semi-final before potentially meeting England in the grand final. While they may have the depth to progress without him initially, a decisive player like Yamal will be absolutely essential to their chances of success once the competition begins to heat up beyond the group stage. He has already proven this at Euro 2024; After a relatively low-key start to the tournament, the youngster provided assists in the round of 16 and quarter-finals. De la Fuente even hinted that Yamal could be used as a high-impact substitute if he is not fully fit. "In a call-up, we consider all scenarios. If we are winning, if we are losing, if the opponent has 10... There are players who can give you 20 minutes and that also has enormous value," he told Sport in April. "There are players who may not be able to give 50 or 60 minutes, but can give 20 very good ones. And that can be a difference. There are players who can arrive at the right time and be decisive in the knockout stages. Our priority is to arrive with the best possible team at the decisive moment."
The watching world will be eager for Yamal to return to full fitness as soon as possible. Players like the Barcelona sensation are the reason millions around the world tune in to watch the World Cup, and it would be a shame if the tournament was deprived of one of its potential superstars for too long or if he isn't fully fit when it finally returns. With his dazzling dribbling ability, trickery and ability to deliver game-changing moments, Yamal is capable of creating countless iconic moments of his own. "He's incredibly excited. He's eager. He's very young but very mature," De la Fuente told RTVE recently. "And he knows this is his moment. And in life, you have to make the most of your opportunities. You never know where you'll be at the next World Cup. And this is Lamine Yamal's moment. He's very good, and he'll only get better as his teammates help him do his best. Yamal won't turn 19 until six days before the final, but this is the teenager's chance to establish himself as the most naturally gifted player on the planet, with the eyes of the world on him. He'll be determined that injuries won't make you miss this golden opportunity.