Spanish-Moroccan star Lamine Yamal feared injury would shatter 2026 World Cup dream

Spain sensation of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinea descent, Lamine Yamal has admitted that he feared his World Cup dream could be shattered after suffering a hamstring injury just weeks before the start of the tournament.

The 18-year-old winger revealed that the uncertainty surrounding the injury left him worried about missing football’s biggest tournament, particularly given the nature of hamstring problems and the risk of lengthy recovery periods.

Yamal sustained the injury while scoring in FC Barcelona’s La Liga clash against Celta Vigo on April 22, sparking immediate concerns over his availability for Spain’s World Cup campaign.

Speaking to the Spanish Football Federation’s media team, the teenage star confessed that his first thoughts after picking up the injury were centred on the possibility of missing the tournament.

“Deep down, I was praying it wasn’t serious, that it was just a muscle strain or something like that, because the World Cup was so close, and I knew that a hamstring injury is never short-term,” Yamal said.

The young attacker further revealed that even after receiving positive updates on his condition, he remained concerned about the possibility of suffering a setback during rehabilitation.

“I was afraid the injury was serious, and even if it wasn’t, I was afraid of a relapse and ending up missing the World Cup,” he added.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente remains hopeful that one of his key attacking weapons will be fit enough to feature in La Roja’s opening World Cup fixture against Cape Verde on June 15.

Yamal took part in Spain’s first training session on Sunday, although his involvement was limited. The winger only completed the warm-up with his teammates before continuing his recovery programme in the gym.

Despite the cautious approach, the youngster is optimistic about his chances of participating in the tournament and believes the prospect of representing Spain at the World Cup has provided an extra mental boost during his recovery.

“Knowing you’re going to the World Cup also helps mentally,” he said. “It feels like you haven’t played a single game all season, and I’m really excited to make my debut.”

Already regarded as one of world football’s brightest talents, Yamal played a starring role in Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 triumph and is expected to be one of the team’s most important players in North America.

The Barcelona forward also spoke about his ambition of lifting the World Cup trophy, describing the competition as the pinnacle of the sport.

“The World Cup is the biggest thing in football,” he said, adding that he has dreamed “a thousand times” about winning it.

Should he not be ready for Spain’s opening match, Yamal is expected to have further opportunities to feature during the group stage, with fixtures against Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 27.

For now, Spain’s medical staff will continue to monitor his recovery closely as the countdown to the World Cup gathers pace, with supporters hoping the teenage star can make a full return in time to showcase his talent on the biggest stage of all.