Spain winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that he feared a hamstring injury sustained late in the season could rule him out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 18-year-old Barcelona star suffered the injury while converting a penalty during his club’s match against Celta Vigo on April 22, raising concerns about his availability for football’s biggest tournament.
Speaking to the Spanish Football Federation’s media platform, Yamal admitted he was worried about the severity of the problem and the possibility of missing the competition.
“Internally, I was praying it was nothing, that it was just cramp or something like that, because the World Cup was very close and I knew that a hamstring injury is never a short-term thing,” said the winger.
“I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup.”
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Despite those concerns, the teenager is making steady progress in his recovery and has already rejoined his teammates in training. During Spain’s first session ahead of the tournament, Yamal participated in the warm-up before continuing his rehabilitation programme in the gym.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente remains optimistic that the youngster will be available for La Roja’s opening Group H fixture against Cape Verde on June 15.
Yamal, who emerged as one of Europe’s brightest talents after helping Spain win the UEFA European Championship in 2024, said the prospect of playing at a World Cup has provided extra motivation during his recovery.
“It’s also true that it helps knowing you’re going to play a World Cup, so mentally it’s like you haven’t played a single game all season, and I’m really eager to make my debut (at the tournament),” he added.
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The Barcelona forward described the World Cup as the pinnacle of the sport and said lifting the trophy is a dream he has imagined countless times.
Should he miss Spain’s opening match, Yamal is expected to feature later in the group stage, with fixtures against Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 27 still to come.
Spain will be hoping one of their most influential young players is fully fit as they begin their quest for World Cup glory.
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