Lamine Yamal has handed Barcelona and Spain a major injury worry after being forced off immediately after scoring a penalty in Barça’s LaLiga win over Celta Vigo on Wednesday.
Club sources told ESPN the initial indication is that he has a torn hamstring, but the severity of the tear and the length of time Yamal could be sidelined will be confirmed via scans Thursday, once the swelling has gone down.
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If that is the case, Yamal could sit out the rest of the season with Barça, with attention then turning to this summer’s World Cup, where he was set to be the key player for European champions Spain.
“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 won and converted a spot kick to give Barça the lead in the 40th minute, but rather than celebrate the goal, he immediately dropped to the ground and called for the medical staff.
Replays showed the 18-year-old grabbing his hamstring after scoring the penalty that proved enough to give Barcelona a victory.
After receiving treatment on the pitch for a few minutes, he was able to walk off, but he was not able to continue. Roony Bardghji replaced him just before halftime.
Yamal is set to make his World Cup debut with Spain against Cape Verde on June 15.
“Hopefully Lamine will only miss a few weeks,” Barcelona midfielder Pedri said. “I wish him the best of luck. He needs to remain calm because he’s young and will surely recover well.”
Barcelona also lost Portugal defender João Cancelo because of an apparent muscle injury to his right leg in the 24th minute.
“We hope their injuries are not serious and that they are back with us as soon as possible,” Barcelona goalkeeper Joan García said.
Barça can ill afford to be without Yamal for any stretch of time as they attempt to get over the line in LaLiga.
Wednesday’s 1-0 victory took Barcelona nine points clear of second-place Real Madrid with six games left.
Barça and Madrid still have to play each other, with the two rivals meeting in the second LaLiga Clásico of the season at Camp Nou on May 10.
Yamal has struggled with a sports hernia at times this season but has not sat out many games because of that or other injuries, making 45 appearances in all competitions.
Wednesday’s goal took his tally for the campaign to 24, and he also has 17 assists.
