The team widely regarded as the favourite for the upcoming World Cup could be facing a major setback after Spanish forward Lamine Yamal suffered an injury while representing Barcelona in a La Liga fixture on Wednesday.

Initial reports suggest that club medical staff fear Yamal may have torn his hamstring, although a definitive diagnosis will only be confirmed after he undergoes medical scans on Thursday.

The 18-year-old star earned a penalty for his side and confidently converted it in the 40th minute against Celta Vigo. However, instead of celebrating the goal, Yamal immediately signaled discomfort and dropped to the ground, holding the back of his left thigh.

“We need to wait,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick said following the match. “We’ll assess the situation. He felt something. After scoring, he wouldn’t have asked to come off without a reason.

“So clearly something happened. We hope it’s nothing serious, but we’ll know more tomorrow.”

Midfielder Pedri, who plays alongside Yamal for both Barcelona and Spain, expressed hope that the injury would not keep the teenager sidelined for long. “Hopefully Lamine will only be out for a few weeks,” he said. “I wish him a smooth recovery. He just needs to stay calm — he’s young and I’m sure he’ll bounce back strongly.”

Yamal’s penalty marked his 16th league goal in 28 appearances this season, and his 24th across all competitions. The strike secured a 1-0 victory for Barcelona, extending their lead at the top of the table to nine points over Real Madrid. With such an advantage, the Catalan side remain firmly on track to lift the domestic title, even if Yamal faces time on the sidelines.

The greater concern, however, is what this injury could mean for Spain’s World Cup campaign this summer in North America.

Spain are set to begin their Group H schedule on June 15 against Cape Verde, followed by a match against Saudi Arabia on June 21, with both games taking place in Atlanta. Their final group-stage encounter will be on June 26 against Uruguay in Zapopan, Mexico.

Spain captured the UEFA Euro 2024 title with significant contributions from Yamal, who was just 16 at the time. Known for his creativity and clinical finishing, the young forward has already netted six goals in 25 appearances for the national team, underlining his importance to Spain’s ambitions on the global stage.