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Russian (RU) Lamine Yamal has admitted he was really worried he would miss World Cup 2026 after picking up a hamstring injury while playing for Barcelona.
The teenager sustained the injury while scoring a penalty against Celta Vigo and ended up missing the rest of Barcelona’s season.
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Yamal has now linked up with the Spain squad for the World Cup and is expected to be passed fit by the start of the tournament.
However, he has admitted he was worried at one point that he would be forced out of this summer’s showpiece in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
“I remember the moment I got injured,” he said in a video released by the RFEF.
“I was praying inside that it was nothing serious, just a cramp or something, because the World Cup was so close and I knew that a hamstring injury, even though I’d never had one before, wouldn’t be a short-term problem.
“I was afraid it was serious, or that I could relapse and miss the World Cup.”
Yamal also spoke of his excitement at playing at his first World Cup.
“I do better when the demands are higher, you raise your level. If my demands were the same as another player’s, maybe I wouldn’t be at this level. I like it this way, I take it as a challenge and I enjoy it,” he added.
“The moment has finally arrived. Since the end of the European Championship, we’ve all been thinking about this day. We’re all very excited. We’re coming in as European champions and we’re going for it all.”
Spain are in friendly action later this week as they take on Iraq in a friendly in A Coruna.
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