Lamine Yamal (foto: Getty Images)
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal faces uncertainty after a hamstring injury, with experts warning of a 30% relapse risk and possible absence from key matches.
Lamine Yamal has become a major injury concern for Barcelona after suffering a hamstring problem that could carry a significant risk of recurrence.
The 18-year-old winger picked up the injury during the match against Celta Vigo, where he scored the decisive goal before feeling discomfort in the back of his thigh.
Medical warning over relapse risk
Initial assessments have raised alarm, with sports medicine specialist Pedro Luis Ripoll highlighting the unpredictable nature of such injuries.
“These types of injuries carry around a 30 percent risk of recurrence, so extreme caution is needed when deciding the return date,” Ripoll said.
He also explained that the severity of the injury will depend on the exact location.
“If the damage is within the muscle, the prognosis is more favourable. But if the muscle-tendon junction or the tendon itself is affected, the absence could last at least four to six weeks,” he added.
El Clasico in doubt
The timeline puts Yamal’s availability for key matches in serious doubt, including the upcoming El Clasico against Real Madrid.
His potential absence could also impact his chances of featuring at the World Cup, depending on how his recovery progresses.
Ripoll urged caution regarding international selection.
“It is too early to say whether it is a tear or just a contracture. In any case, national team coaches want players who are fully fit. Given the relapse risk, his inclusion would be highly questionable,” he said.
Careful management required
Barcelona now face a delicate decision: balancing the urgency of the season with the need to protect one of their most valuable young players.
“Maximum caution is required,” Ripoll stressed.
Further medical tests in the coming days are expected to clarify the extent of the injury, but it is already clear that the outcome could play a decisive role in both Barcelona’s season and Yamal’s international prospects.