Lamine Yamal could be facing an anxious wait on the sidelines after being forced off injured despite scoring the decisive goal in FC Barcelona’s narrow 1-0 win over Celta Vigo.
The 18-year-old continued his outstanding season by converting a penalty in the 40th minute at the Spotify Camp Nou, coolly slotting past goalkeeper Ionut Radu after winning the spot-kick himself.
However, the celebrations were short-lived. Moments after scoring, Yamal went to ground clutching his left hamstring and immediately signalled to the bench. He was unable to continue and was substituted at half-time, leaving the pitch with the assistance of medical staff before heading straight down the tunnel.
The injury is a major concern for Barcelona, who extended their lead at the top of La Liga to nine points with the victory and are closing in on back-to-back titles with six games remaining.
Manager Hansi Flick admitted there is uncertainty over the severity of the issue.
“We have to wait. We have to see what it is,” he said after the match. “I think there’s something… hopefully it’s not so bad.”
Yamal has been a key figure in Barcelona’s campaign, registering 16 league goals and 11 assists — exceptional numbers for a player still in his teens.
His absence would also be a significant blow ahead of next month’s Clasico clash with Real Madrid, as well as the club’s final push for the title.
There is also growing concern for the Spain national football team, with the 2026 World Cup now less than 50 days away. Yamal is expected to play a central role for Spain following his breakthrough performances in recent tournaments.
Team-mate Pedri said: “I hope it’s for as few weeks as possible… he should stay calm – he’s young and will surely recover well.”
For now, Barcelona will celebrate another crucial win, but all eyes will be on the fitness of their brightest young star.
