Barcelona are growing increasingly worried about Lamine Yamal’s groin injury, which they fear could develop into a chronic condition, according to reports.
As per reports from The Sun and Daily Mail, the 18-year-old prodigy has been struggling with pubalgia, a painful groin issue that has disrupted his breakthrough season.
The condition is notoriously stubborn, and Lionel Messi himself battled it early in his career before eventually making a full recovery.
Earlier reports suggested Yamal might even require surgery if the pain continues. Media coverage has branded the problem ‘incurable,” a label that might sound dramatic but isn’t far off the reality for elite athletes.
For top professionals, pubalgia isn’t just a lingering injury — it’s a career-shaping
obstacle, affecting training, movement, and even shooting mechanics.
Dr. Luis Ripoll, a sports medicine specialist who has treated similar cases, explained:
“It is characterised by disabling pain that reduces the player’s movement and shooting ability by almost 50%. In other words, he hardly shoots at goal, he moves with difficulty, and he constantly stretches.”
A Painful Pattern Emerges
Yamal’s struggles began in late August 2025, and by September, he was reportedly relying on painkilling injections to represent Spain in international duty. That gamble backfired. The teenager was forced to miss four straight matches for Barcelona before returning from the bench against Real Sociedad.
He then started and completed the full Champions League clash with Paris, but the pain soon flared up again. By early October, Barcelona confirmed he’d be sidelined for two to three weeks, missing games against Sevilla and Spain’s World Cup qualifiers.
During El Clásico, his limitations were plain to see: slowed movement, reduced power, and visible discomfort.
Not an Isolated Case
Yamal joins a long list of stars to battle pubalgia, including Eric García, Toni Kroos, Kaká, Sergio Busquets, and Xabi Alonso.
Despite the setbacks, the young winger has notched three goals and five assists in eight appearances this season. His current contract runs through 2031.
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