Lamine Yamal in doubt for the World Cup: Spain without young star.

Lamine Yamal, a prodigious talent from FC Barcelona, is facing a serious setback that could severely compromise Spain’s aspirations in the upcoming World Cup. The young winger, who has been emerging as one of the brightest prospects in Spanish football, is doubtful for the start of the competition and may even miss the first match of the Spanish national team, a brutal blow for Luis Enrique’s squad.

According to exclusive sources, Yamal is still recovering from a calf injury sustained during Barcelona’s victory over Celta Vigo in La Liga last month. The severity of the injury has ruled the player out for the remainder of the Catalan club’s season, which had already raised serious concerns about his physical condition for the season’s final stretch — and now for the World Cup. The Spanish Football Federation, in conjunction with FC Barcelona’s medical team, has been closely monitoring his recovery, with regular trips from specialists to Catalonia to assess the winger’s progress.

The current expectation is clear: Lamine Yamal will not be ready for the first group match, scheduled for June 15 against Cape Verde, which represents a huge loss for the Spanish team, who were counting on his explosiveness and offensive creativity to kick off the tournament with a victory. To complicate matters further, his physical condition raises serious doubts about his availability for the second group match against Saudi Arabia on June 21.

The impact of this absence cannot be underestimated. Lamine Yamal is a key player in Spain’s offensive strategy, and his ability to create imbalance and speed in the final third of the pitch gives the team a firepower that is difficult to replace. The use of a “conservative plan” in treating the injury, as confirmed by FC Barcelona, highlights the concern to avoid relapses and ensure his long-term recovery, but it leaves the national team in a delicate position for the start of the World Cup.

This situation places the Spanish national team at a crossroads: to bet on less experienced alternatives or to reconfigure their playing model to compensate for the absence of the young Catalan talent. The pressure is mounting and the clock is ticking. The lingering question is whether Lamine Yamal will recover in time to shine on the biggest stage in world football or if Spain will have to face a World Cup without one of its greatest offensive weapons. The outcome of this saga will be crucial for Spain’s ambitions in the tournament.

This article first appeared on [Apito Final](https://apitofinal.pt/).