Barcelona

Inside Barcelona’s plan to save Lamine Yamal’s World Cup after injury scare

Spain play their first game against Cape Verde on June 16, but Yamal likely won’t feature until later in the tournament.

Javier Miguel Roddy Cons

Update: Apr 30th, 2026 11:27 EDT

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Last Monday, a high-level meeting took place involving the core of Barcelona’s sporting commission, Deco, Alejandro Echevarría and Bojan Krkic, along with club physiotherapists Raúl Martínez and Fernando Galán. The unusual gathering centered on one key issue: Lamine Yamal’s recovery.

While it could not strictly be called a medical summit due to the absence of a physician, the group laid out a clear roadmap for the young forward. In roughly a month, Yamal is expected to rejoin Spain’s national team camp, though he will still be officially sidelined as he continues to recover from a left hamstring injury.

📊| It’s been 3 years since Lamine Yamal made his debut for Barcelona at 15 years old! 😳

- 176 matches
- 55 goals
- 56 assists
- 111 G/A
- 6 trophies

[@Footy_VAR] pic.twitter.com/VzVKH2I42Q
— Access Yamal (@AccessYamal) April 29, 2026

A trusted figure takes charge

According to sources, the meeting finalized Barcelona’s plan for managing Yamal’s recovery. Fernando Galán will oversee the process both at the club level and with the national team. His role will become even more hands-on during the World Cup, when he is expected to provide daily reports back to Barcelona.

Galán is already a familiar presence to Yamal. The external physiotherapist has worked with Barcelona for some time, regularly checking in with players early in the week under the supervision of Raúl Martínez, the head of first-team physiotherapy.

Galán’s primary responsibility will be to safeguard Yamal’s health, ensure he returns in peak condition and, just as importantly, apply the brakes if there is any temptation to rush the process.

High risk demands caution

Within the club, there is widespread awareness of the risks involved. Hamstring injuries are particularly tricky for players like Yamal, whose game is built on explosiveness, power and constant changes of pace.

The cautionary tale is fresh. Raphinha suffered two relapses earlier this season while trying to return in time for the first Clásico, reinforcing the dangers of pushing too soon.

Barcelona’s medical staff made it clear during the meeting that Yamal’s recovery timeline is expected to be between six and seven weeks. That effectively rules him out of Spain’s opening game against Cape Verde on June 16, while leaving a potential return against Saudi Arabia on June 21 uncertain.

Barcelona confirm Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.

He’s still expected to return in time for the World Cup. pic.twitter.com/JcK7CVe6sn
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 23, 2026

No shortcuts allowed

Physiotherapists also ruled out any possibility of accelerating the recovery through injections or similar treatments. In cases like this, intramuscular injections are considered completely off-limits due to the risk of worsening the injury.

With that in mind, the focus is firmly on a full recovery rather than a fast one.

Targeting a key group-stage clash

If all goes according to plan, Barcelona believes Yamal could be fully fit for Spain’s June 27 match against Uruguay, a game that is likely to be decisive in the group stage.

From that point forward, the expectation is that he can play without limitations, though he will continue on an individualized prevention program to minimize the risk of reinjury.

Club and country aligned

Barcelona has full confidence in Galán’s ability to manage the situation and keep Yamal grounded, particularly when it comes to resisting the player’s natural urge to return as soon as possible.

The club is also placing its trust in Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente and national team doctor Óscar Celada to avoid taking unnecessary risks.

With all factors considered, Barcelona remains optimistic. The hope is that Yamal can navigate the World Cup without setbacks, potentially carrying that momentum all the way to the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and strengthening his case as one of the game’s brightest young stars on the global stage.