Barcelona's Lamine Yamal goes off injured 54 days before Spain's first World Cup game

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona reacts to an injury after scoring his team's first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Spotify Camp Nou on April 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Alex Caparros Share articleLamine Yamal went off during Barcelona’s 2-0 win against Celta Vigo with a suspected muscle injury only 54 days before Spain’s first World Cup match. The 18-year-old scored a penalty in the 40th minute — the game’s opening goal — but went down soon after and needed treatment on the pitch. After a delay of nearly 20 minutes due to a medical emergency in the crowd, he was replaced by Roony Bardghji, 20, just before the half-time mark and walked straight down the tunnel. Barcelona have six games left to play in La Liga, including the Clasico against Real Madrid on May 10, before Spain’s first World Cup game against Cape Verde on June 15. “We have to wait till tomorrow,” Hansi Flick said in his post-match press conference. “There is something because he felt it. He wouldn’t have left the pitch without a reason.” The penalty was Yamal’s third goal in as many games, registering 24 in 45 appearances so far this season alongside 16 assists, as Barcelona sit top of La Liga, nine points clear of Real Madrid with six games to play. Despite not featuring in the October and November World Cup qualifiers due to pubalgia, the forward returned for the March friendlies as Luis de la Fuente’s side beat Serbia and drew to Egypt. Yamal was the second Barca player to be substituted to injury in the first half after Joao Cancelo was taken off with what appeared to be a right thigh injury. The 31-year-old Portugal international received treatment on the pitch before being replaced by Alejandro Balde in the 23rd minute. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms