This World Cup was always going to be a challenge for Lamine Yamal.
Not because he lacked talent or desire, but because it turned into a race against time to recover from a serious hamstring injury that he suffered while converting a critical penalty for Barcelona against Celta Vigo back in April.
There has always been tension between Luis de la Fuente and Barcelona.
The Spanish manager relies on the Blaugrana to provide the players that make up the backbone of his team. The problem is, by being so
dependent on them over the years, they have rarely been given a rest, and perhaps now as result, we aren’t seeing the best version of them.
It’s not just Lamine Yamal, you can put Pedri in the same category.
Lamine was the best player at Euro 2024 when Spain went on to win the trophy. Since then, he won two La Liga titles with Barcelona. This World Cup was an opportunity to announce himself as the heir apparent to Messi as the GOAT in waiting.
Instead, the headlines have been stolen by Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, and none other than the 39-year-old Messi himself.
Mbappe has eight goals and three assists.
Messi has eight goals and two assists.
Haaland has seven goals.
Meanwhile, even Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Ousmane Dembele have seven goal contributions.
Lamine Yamal? Just one goal.
Now, if you ask any elite player, they’ll tell you team success trumps individual success. Spain is in the semi-finals, and Lamine continues to be their most important player leading the way, in spite of his quiet showing in the race for the Golden Boot.
If Spain goes on to win the World Cup, that will count for more than anything when his legacy is written. He’s turning just 19 years old this week, and his trophy case is already overflowing with titles for both Barcelona and Spain.
Still, you can’t ignore the fact that the guy who could have won the Ballon d’Or a year ago, and will likely be a perennial candidate going forward, is being overshadowed at this World Cup.
Does any of this matter?
The question I can’t help asking is whether Lamine Yamal and Pedri are fully fit, and whether there may be knock-on effects heading into the new campaign with Barcelona.
Spain started slow with their 0-0 tie against Cape Verde, and that put the pressure on Luis de la Fuente to throw caution to the wind with his usage of Lamine.
The Barcelona teenage sensation has nothing to prove in my mind, but when he plays, it’s important for him to be one hundred percent healthy, so he can perform at his best, and be set up for a long term career with minimal injury disruptions. Messi had that, and Lamine deserves it too.
Perhaps I’m wrong, and Lamine’s lack of goals and assists is because of other factors. I doubt it though.
Managers need to protect their best players. It should be a responsibility and an expectation.
Hopefully, Spain goes on to win the World Cup, and Lamine gets his moment. After that, send him to a beach and give him plenty of extra rest before the La Liga season begins.
Players like Lamine may look like magicians, but let’s always remember that in reality they’re humans.
If we want him to keep entertaining the world, he must be treated that way.
