Barcelona star Lamine Yamal suffered an apparent hamstring injury while scoring a penalty in a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday, April 22.According to ESPN, Barcelona fears the teenage superstar has suffered a torn hamstring. With 50 days left until the World Cup begins, the Spain international could be facing a race against time to be fit."We have to wait," Barça coach Hansi Flick said after the game. "We have to see what it is.
There is something. He felt it. After the goal, he would not leave the pitch without reason."So it's something. Something happened.
Hopefully it's not so bad, but we have to wait until tomorrow."Yamal suffered the injury five minutes before halftime. After he won a penalty, the winger stepped up and buried the spot kick, but immediately pulled up while grabbing his left hamstring.The 18-year-old was able to walk off under his own power but had to be replaced by Roony Bardghji.Lamine se retiró de la cancha con lesión 👀 pic.twitter.com/RZOqK2JSJU— ESPN Deportes (@ESPNDeportes) April 22, 2026Yamal is set to be one of the most-watched players at the World Cup this summer. Despite his age, he is considered one of the best players in the world and finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting.The teenager helped lead Spain to the title at Euro 2024, a tournament during which he turned 17.This would be Yamal's first World Cup, with Spain among the favorites to win."Hopefully Lamine will only miss a few weeks," Barcelona and Spain midfielder Pedri said.
"I wish him the best of luck. He needs to remain calm because he's young and will surely recover well."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lamine Yamal injury: Barcelona star suffers hamstring issue