Lamine Yamal Is Not Fully Healthy and May Not Play in the Match Against Saudi Arabia at the World Cup
Lamine Yamal is not completely healthy and is unlikely to play for Spain in the World Cup match against Saudi Arabia, after he suffered a thigh muscle injury.
Lamine Yamal does not feel 100% fit and is unlikely to start for Spain in Sunday's World Cup match against Saudi Arabia. Yamal came into the tournament with a left thigh muscle injury and was limited to the bench in the team's opening match on Monday — a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. "I'm fine, I feel good, but it's too early to play," Yamal told Spanish channel RTVE. "It's not necessary (to take risks). I'm in the process of adapting, it's not the time to play the full 90 minutes. But I can play as many minutes as the coach wants." The 18-year-old came on in the 71st minute in the match against Cape Verde but could not help La Roja win against a country of about half a million people that was participating in this major sporting event for the first time. After facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta, Spain will travel to Guadalajara to face Uruguay in a crucial Group H match. This match could be decisive and Yamal being fully fit could be crucial for Spain. Yamal said teammate Nico Williams, who also arrived with an injury, is recovering faster than him. "Physically, he is even better than me," Yamal said. "We are in no hurry. We have a great squad with top players and need to take it step by step." Yamal arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament's biggest stars despite being so young. He has shined with Barcelona and the Spanish national team for a long time, helping La Roja win the European championship in 2024. He led Barcelona to win the La Liga championship last season. His popularity in the US was evident during the World Cup. An advertisement with his image appeared on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium building in Atlanta, where Spain began its campaign. "I'm taking this naturally, it's something I'm used to," Yamal said of his rise to fame. "I know what I represent both outside Spain and within Spain. I try to always do my best, that's what the fans want. If you have your image on that building, it's because you can do things on the field that people like, things that make them excited to see you play." Reporting by The Associated Press.
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