The alarm bell has sounded in Spain after Barcelona star Lamine Yamal hobbled off with a hamstring injury after scoring a penalty during his side’s 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday night.
Yamal, 18, is central to his country’s World Cup aspirations having played a crucial role during their Euro 2024 triumph, but officials will be sweating over his availability after he clutched his left hamstring following his spot kick in the first half at the Nou Camp.
The teenager was immediately attended to by club medical staff and was able to walk off the field of play before Hansi Flick replaced him with Roony Bardghji.
‘I hope Lamine misses the fewest possible amount of time,’ said Barcelona and Spain team-mate Pedri after the game.
‘He’ll undergo the tests tomorrow and we’ll see the nature of the issue’. ‘I wish him all the best, and that he stays calm because he’s still young’.
Lamine Yamal has caused concern after leaving the field of play on Wednesday with an apparent hamstring injury
The Spain forward picked up the injury while taking a penalty with the World Cup now just 50 days away
The severity of Yamal’s injury is yet to be determined, with the World Cup just 50 days away.
According to Spanish publication Diario AS, however, he may have suffered a muscle tear.
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The typical return time for a muscle tear injury is varied. For a grade one tear, just days can pass before a player can return. Grade two typically requires around three weeks of recovery and a grade three tear can take three months or more to come back from.
Spain’s first game at the World Cup is on June 15 against Cape Verde, which is in 54 days – or nearly eight weeks.
The forward is key to Spain’s hopes of success at the summer’s tournament in North America, having played a key role in their Euro 2024 success.
He was seen walking down the tunnel at the Nou Camp, with fans watching on nervously. Yamal has struggled with groin issues this season, but the incident appeared to be a separate injury.
The forward has netted 24 goals and picked up a further 17 assists in 44 games this season.
