FC Barcelona is growing increasingly concerned about the physical condition of Lamine Yamal, its most promising talent. The 18-year-old is still dealing with the lingering effects of a groin injury that dates back to late August—an issue that has not fully healed despite weeks of conservative treatment. Although he continues to compete, his performances have clearly dipped, and now the player is consulting external medical experts to assess whether surgery might be necessary.

The young winger, a key figure in Hansi Flick’s system, was far from his best in the recent Clásico against Real Madrid, where his lack of rhythm was evident. According to Sport, Lamine Yamal sought a second medical opinion to better understand the progression of his condition, which has been managed through physiotherapy and targeted exercises—but the discomfort persists.

Lingering Pain and Worrying Numbers

Over the past two months, the academy product has alternated between absences and limited appearances. He played for Spain in September thanks to pain-killing injections but subsequently missed four matches with Barça. He later logged 120 minutes in demanding games against Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain, before another three-week break. His recent return against Girona, Olympiakos, and Real Madrid showed that he has yet to regain his trademark explosiveness.

The statistics tell the story: before the injury, he averaged 11.3 dribbles per match, but that figure has dropped to 9.1. His shots on target have fallen from 6.6 to 3.8 per game, and his direct goal contributions have decreased from 1.33 to 0.6 per match, according to Cadena SER. It’s not only the pain limiting him—his lack of match rhythm has also reduced his impact in Barça’s attack.

Optimism Within Hansi Flick’s Camp

Despite the situation, the coaching staff remains hopeful that the youngster will be fit for the upcoming match against Elche. Both Dani Olmo and Robert Lewandowski, who were also recovering from muscle injuries, have completed full training sessions and could return to action alongside Yamal.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona continues to manage its schedule cautiously. The club, which has raffled off 1,389 tickets among its members for the upcoming trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, knows that its short-term success depends on recovering its brightest young star. Lamine Yamal is more than just the present—he’s the symbol of a new generation that Barça cannot afford to lose to a poorly treated injury.