Lamine Yamal has sparked fears of a serious hamstring injury after the 18-year-old was forced off following his goal in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga. The Spaniard converted a 40th-minute penalty but immediately pulled up, signalling to the bench before collapsing and clutching the back of his left leg.
He was replaced by Roony Bardghji, and Barcelona held on to the victory, maintaining their nine-point lead at the top of the table over Real Madrid. The exact nature of the injury is unconfirmed, and scans are scheduled to determine its severity.
It appears likely Yamal will miss some crucial matches in the league run-in, with Barcelona facing Getafe and Osasuna next, followed by a potential title-deciding El Clasico against Real Madrid on 10 May at Camp Nou.
Teammate Pedri expressed hope the injury would be minor, telling reporters: '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.'
Early reports in Spanish media, including Mundo Deportivo, suggest Yamal may have suffered a tear in his left hamstring that could sideline him for at least five weeks. Such a timeline would put his participation in Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde on 15 June in doubt, though it would also leave him just enough time to recover if the injury is not more serious.
Yamal is the latest young talent hampered by hamstring issues, with Chelsea's Estevao also a doubt for the World Cup after a similar injury last weekend.
