Flick: Injured Yamal Will Return 'Stronger' for Spain at World Cup

Flick backs injured ballon d’or runner-up Yamal for World Cup return  

Lamine Yamal is ruled out for the rest of the season after injuring his hamstring vs Celta Vigo. Barcelona boss Flick backs the 18-year-old to return stronger for the World Cup.

Lamine Yamal scored in Barcelona’s win over Celta Vigo before going off with a season-ending hamstring injury...

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Friday that injured teenager Lamine Yamal will return for Spain at the World Cup this summer, adding the winger will be “stronger” than before.

The 18-year-old is out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury Wednesday during Barcelona’s LaLiga win over Celta Vigo.

  

Yamal won and scored a penalty to keep Barcelona nine points clear of Real Madrid atop the table, but went down injured moments later and was substituted.

“It's not easy this situation for us, but also for him,' Flick told reporters.

“He knows it was his first muscle injury. What I can feel is that he is very focused. He has the motivation - he is out for us, but I think for the World Cup he will be there and he will be stronger, (he will) come back stronger than now.”

Yamal, who finished second in last year’s Ballon d’Or voting and helped Spain win EURO 2024, has been central to Barcelona’s LaLiga title defense.

Flick said Yamal may have been hurt in the foul that led to the penalty, but the teenager didn’t recognize the issue because he’d never experienced an injury like it before.

“He felt something after the foul, but I think it was not so much. And he decided to kick the penalty, and after that it's maybe more,” said Flick.

“He never had a muscle injury before, so it's also part of learning about the signal the body gives you.

Hansi Flick speaks on Lamine Yamal's injury: ❝He’s very focused and motivated to come back stronger.❞ pic.twitter.com/Xz64efGYe6

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 24, 2026

“It's not so easy because he is really young, but in the end it's an experience. And this is what he has to learn.”

Yamal has 24 goals and 18 assists for Barcelona across all competitions this season, including nine goals in his last 12 league games.

“I really appreciate a lot the last few weeks. He was on an unbelievable level. He's more mature than 18,” added Flick.

"He's clever, he's smart, and he knows what he wants. Of course, now this injury affects him also... but then you have to focus on what's going on in the process to come back, to get fitter and fitter and better and better.”

Barcelona travel to Getafe on Saturday, while Real Madrid face Real Betis away on Friday.