JAKARTA - Barcelona paid a high price when defeating Celta Vigo 1-0 in a Spanish La Liga match. Young star Lamine Yamal suffered a hamstring injury after scoring a goal from the penalty spot. If his injury is severe and must end the competition sooner, Yamal is threatened with being absent from the 2026 World Cup in Spain.
Yamal played an important role in bringing Barca to an important victory when hosting Celta at Camp Nou Stadium, Thursday, April 23, 2026 early morning WIB. His action when penetrating the opponent's penalty box ended with a foul that forced the referee to point to the white spot. The penalty execution was also completed by this 18-year-old winger.
The goal in the 40th minute gave Barca a 1-0 lead. This is Yamal's 16th goal in 28 matches in La Liga. Meanwhile, in various competitions, Yamal has played 45 times and has scored 24 goals.
Only after scoring the goal, Yamal did not celebrate. He showed pain before falling so he got treatment. The medical team needed 15 minutes to provide treatment to Yamal before he was finally pulled out and replaced by Roony Bardghji.
Barca's one-goal advantage lasted until the end of the match. They also managed to widen the points gap to nine with Real Madrid in second place.
The question is, the competition for the league title is not over. The competition still leaves six more matches and Madrid refuses to give up. Barca is also starting to be wary because Yamal, who is the mainstay of the team, has an injury and is expected to be out for quite some time. He is likely to have a hamstring injury.
Only if there is a torn muscle, the recovery process for the player who led Spain to win the 2024 European Cup will be longer. Yamal will end the competition sooner. In fact, he is threatened with not being able to strengthen La Roja at the 2026 World Cup.
"We still have to wait [for the results of the examination]," said coach Hansi Flick. "We have to make sure what kind of injury he has. He did feel there was a problem. After scoring a goal, he won't leave the field without a reason," he said.
"We just hope that what he experienced is not serious. We are still waiting until tomorrow," said Flick again.
Yamal is scheduled to undergo scans on Thursday local time or Friday WIB. If the hamstring injury is not serious, then Yamal only needs to rest for four or six weeks. Barca can also still bring him down after recovering even though he is not fit yet if he still has to compete with Madrid.
However, if Barca has sealed the league title, then Yamal will undergo an intensive recovery process so that he can appear at the World Cup. "I hope Lamine is only absent for a few weeks. I hope he recovers soon," said his colleague at the club, Pedri.
However, Yamal is still racing against time so that he is really fit. The reason is that Spain will compete in the World Cup by facing Cape Verde on June 15, 2026. Yamal is estimated to have not recovered and has been forced to miss the first match.
After facing Cape Verde in Group H, Spain will face Saudi Arabia on June 21, 2026. Both matches will be held in the United States. Spain then crossed to Mexico to face Uruguay, June 26, 2026 local time. If the injury is severe and does not heal in June, Yamal must extinguish the dream of playing in the World Cup.
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