Updated: 1 May 2026 16:35 BST |
4 min read
Spain have received a major boost in their quest to win the World Cup after it was revealed Barcelona have crafted a plan to ease injured forward Lamine Yamal into this summer’s tournament.
Yamal will miss the rest of the domestic season after sustaining a hamstring injury in his left leg when scoring the decisive penalty in Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Celta Vigo earlier this month.
However, after announcing Yamal will be absent from their final five league fixtures, Barcelona revealed the 18-year-old is expected to return to fitness ahead of Spain’s pursuit of World Cup glory in North America.
And it has since been revealed how Barcelona plan to manage Yamal’s injury between now and the start of world football’s biggest tournament, which gets under way on Thursday, 11 June.
According to Spanish publication Diario AS, Barcelona reportedly held a meeting between its hierarchy and physiotherapists Raul Martinez and Fernando Galan to come up with a recovery plan to help Yamal feature for Spain next month.
The report claims that Galan – an external physiotherapist who has been working with Barcelona for several years – will primarily oversee Yamal’s rehabilitation, under the supervision of the first team’s head of physiotherapy Martinez.
It is understood that both Galan and Martinez told Barcelona’s board that Yamal is expected to miss the next six to seven weeks with the hamstring complaint, meaning their plan involves him missing Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday, 15 June in Atlanta, United States.
The report continues by claiming Yamal is being earmarked to return as a second-half substitute in the European Champions’ second fixture against Saudi Arabia six days’ later – also in Atlanta, USA.
Provided Yamal comes through unscathed against Saudi Arabia, the plan would then be for the teen sensation to feature from the start against Uruguay on Saturday, 27 June in Zapopan, Mexico.
Spain are widely considered to be one of the favourites to win the World Cup this summer, alongside defending champions Argentina and France.
Luis de la Fuente’s side were excellent in qualifying for the latest edition of FIFA’s flagship tournament, winning five and drawing one of their six games as they topped Group E ahead of second-placed Turkey.
Yamal – who is set to compete at his maiden World Cup this summer – was in fine form in qualifying, registering three assists to aid Spain’s push to win football’s biggest prize for the second time, having triumphed in South Africa in 2010.
Analysis: All eyes on Yamal ahead of his first World Cup
Despite the concerns over Yamal’s fitness ahead of the World Cup, there remains huge anticipation for his participation in the tournament.
The Barcelona wonderkid has already lit up one international tournament for Spain after helping De la Fuente’s side to victory at the 2024 European Championship in Germany.
Yamal scored a wonderful individual effort against France in the semi-finals, which was subsequently crowned Goal of the Tournament.
The winger has also been in inspired form for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona this season, scoring 16 goals and registering 11 assists in La Liga as his side stand on the brink of retaining the title ahead of fierce rivals Real Madrid.
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