FC Barcelona confirmed on Thursday that Lamine Yamal will miss the remainder of the season, a major blow for the “Blaugrana” in their attempt to secure the La Liga title. However, the club reassured Spain, guaranteeing that the player is not at risk of missing the World Cup.
Yamal is expected to be out for four to six weeks, which would allow him to return around June 6, nine days before Spain begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta. The 18-year-old admitted he was disappointed by the injury, but the fact that the World Cup is not in danger is certainly positive news for him — at least in theory.
Sports specialist Pedro Luis Ripoll appeared on Cadena SER on Thursday evening, warning that the chances of Yamal being fully fit for the start of the World Cup are low.
According to him, the estimated recovery period refers to a return to training rather than matches, while a player usually needs to complete six training sessions before returning to top-level competition. His assessment is that Yamal is likely to miss the first match but could be ready for the games against Saudi Arabia (June 21) and Uruguay (June 27).
Dr. Ripoll added that Barcelona have had similar issues throughout the season and that Yamal’s injury typically carries about a 30% risk of recurrence. According to him, this risk has been even higher for Barcelona players this season.
The most notable case is that of Raphinha, who has suffered two thigh muscle injuries and one relapse during an attempt to return to the pitch. The Brazilian’s absence has been a major problem for coach Hansi Flick this season.
