Yamal attended the Laureus Sports Awards in Madrid, where he won the best young athlete award, on April 22. Following the ceremony, the 18-year-old posted a picture holding a McDonald’s tray on a private flight back to Barcelona.
The next evening, Barcelona hosted Celta Vigo at Camp Nou in La Liga. Yamal started the match and scored a penalty in the 28th minute.
However, the winger limped off the pitch immediately after scoring. Medical tests on April 24 confirmed he suffered a torn hamstring in his left thigh.
Barcelona announced that Yamal will miss the remainder of the current season. The club hope he can recover in time for the 2026 World Cup, which begins on June 11.
Spain will play Cape Verde in their opening match on June 15. With an expected recovery time of six to eight weeks, Yamal’s participation remains uncertain.
Following his injury, reporter Juan Furlanich heavily criticized Yamal on the DSports program “Futbol Total”.
“Lamine Yamal got injured while taking a penalty, and this is not a coincidence but the result of discomfort, lack of self-care, and taking risks, especially since two days earlier he was eating fast food and arriving by private jet before a match,” he said. “Therefore, what happened today is a natural outcome, even though he had previously taken a penalty without any problem.”
Lamine Yamal poses with fast food on a private jet on April 22, 2026. Photo by Instagram/@lamineyamal |
The reporter pointed to the fast-food post as a sign of unprofessionalism. He argued that eating junk food late at night, less than 48 hours before a match, shows a lack of discipline. He also noted that Yamal was not secretly photographed, but willingly shared these photos himself.
Fast food and processed food is widely considered unsuitable for elite athletes.Veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo famously avoid all fast food and soft drinks to maintain peak physical condition.
Yamal has been crucial for Barcelona this season, recording 12 goals and 18 assists in 41 matches. Barcelona currently leads La Liga with 85 points, sitting 11 points ahead of Real Madrid with four games left. While Yamal’s absence won’t likely derail their title run, it raises concerns for his international duties.
The teenage star is expected to play a key role for Spain at the World Cup in North America.
Despite the injury, Yamal remains optimistic. On social media, he expressed his disappointment about missing games but voiced confidence in his teammates. He promised fans he would return stronger and thanked them for their support.
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