‘Relapse rate of 30%’ – Lamine Yamal sent World Cup warning as Barcelona fear teenager has torn hamstring

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona is substituted with an injury during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and RC Celta de Vigo at Spotify Camp Nou on April 22, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Barcelona are currently sweating on the fitness of Lamine Yamal amid fears he suffered a torn hamstring during Wednesday’s win over Celta Vigo.

Yamal sustained the injury while scoring the winning goal for Barcelona from the penalty spot but may now be set for a spell on the sidelines.

The teenager has also been warned that his World Cup may be in jeopardy as such injuries have a high relapse rate which could be a problem ahead of this summer’s tournament in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

“This injury has a relapse rate of 30%, so you have to be very careful. We have to be extremely cautious with the recovery deadlines,” sports medicine expert Dr Ripoll told Cadena SER.

“If the lesion is located in the muscle belly, we are talking about a more benign prognosis; on the other hand, if it is located at the junction of the muscle with the tendon or in the tendon itself, the injury could be more serious: at least four or six weeks.

“It’s very premature to say at this point whether it looks more like a tear or a strain. In any case, coaches like Luis de la Fuente want their players healthy and in good form. I think it’s unlikely he’ll be called up because the relapse rate is 30%, and that would mean losing a player for the World Cup.”

An update on Yamal is expected from Barcelona today as he’s due to undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.