Lamine Yamal has been diagnosed with chronic pubalgia, a groin condition reducing his performance by 50 percent according to medical experts. Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll revealed that the young star’s movement and shooting ability are severely restricted by the painful injury.
Physiotherapist Lluis Puig explained pubalgia involves alterations where multiple muscles converge in the pubic area. The condition differs fundamentally from standard muscle injuries.
Puig stated the injury cannot be considered cured once healed and requires ongoing management through preventative and compensatory work. Growth-related postural changes often contribute to the condition.
Lionel Messi too suffered from pubalgia twice between 2000 and 2008 during his Barcelona career. The Argentine legend provides a positive precedent for Yamal’s situation.
Ripoll described pubalgia as disabling, explaining that pain forces players to compete below their best level despite allowing participation in matches. The condition proved particularly evident during Barcelona’s 2-1 El Clasico defeat to Real Madrid.
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This season so far
Yamal missed five matches this season for Barcelona and Spain due to recurring groin discomfort, including the Champions League opener against Newcastle and international fixtures.
Spanish outlet Sport reported Yamal is not currently considering surgery, opting instead for conservative treatment including rest and physical therapy. The teenager acknowledges he is not at full fitness.
Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso underwent surgery for pubalgia in 2013, requiring six weeks of recovery to solve the problem definitively.
Former Barcelona doctor Jordi Ardevol warned the priority must be rest and physiotherapy, stating complete recovery requires three to four weeks minimum. Early intervention prevents chronic problems in the future.
Yamal has featured eight times this season across all competitions, scoring three goals and providing five assists despite his physical limitations. Barcelona coaching staff have adjusted his training routine too.
Barcelona faces difficult decisions regarding Yamal’s long-term health. The Catalan club’s depleted squad provides limited alternatives on the right wing.
