Yamal rules out full 90 minutes against Saudi Arabia as hamstring recovery continues

Lamine Yamal has told Spanish public television TVE that he is not ready to play a full match at the 2026 World Cup, as his recovery from a hamstring injury continues ahead of Spain’s Group Stage clash with Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Barcelona forward made his first appearance in nearly two months during Spain’s opening fixture, coming off the bench for 25 minutes in a goalless draw with Cape Verde — a result that drew widespread criticism of the European champions.

“I’m fine, I’m feeling good, but it’s too soon, it’s unnecessary; I’m still settling in — it’s not the right time to play a full match yet — but I can play for as many minutes as the manager wants,” Yamal said. He added: “I want to be on the pitch; at the end of the day, even if you know you can’t play for 90 minutes, you always want to get out there and help the team.”

Yamal, who played a central role in Spain’s record-extending fourth European Championship title in 2024, said the injury had inevitably made the World Cup a constant concern during his rehabilitation. “All players in the final stages of the season — with every injury, you think about the World Cup, and obviously about your team, but the World Cup is always on your mind,” he explained. “After I’ve heard about the injury, thank God the doctors told me I was going to be ready, and here we are, happy.”

Despite the pressure surrounding Spain’s stuttering start, Yamal moved to calm the reaction to the Cape Verde draw. “It’s best to move on,” he said. “There was a bit of a fuss over a draw, but in the end lots of teams have struggled in the first round — it doesn’t mean anything.”

He did, however, acknowledge the stakes of Sunday’s fixture. “Obviously, we have to win on Sunday because we’re among the favourites, but just because you’ve drawn doesn’t mean you’re one of the worst teams in the World Cup.”

Spain’s fitness management of Yamal will remain a key subplot as Luis de la Fuente’s side look to find their rhythm in a group they were widely expected to top with ease.