Despite being only 18, Yamal has already emerged as one of the top talents globally, finishing second in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings. ..Continue Reading
He was instrumental for both Barcelona and Spain last season, contributing to a domestic treble for his club and a European Championship win for his country.
This season, however, he’s been hampered by a groin issue, missing four of Barcelona’s opening 11 league fixtures.
While the club hasn’t provided an official update, reports suggest Yamal is dealing with pubalgia—a chronic groin injury that causes ongoing discomfort in the pubic area.
As noted by Spanish outlet Sport, pubalgia is a particularly complex condition. With uncertainty surrounding his recovery, there’s a possibility Yamal may never regain full fitness.
Barcelona have been advised to carefully manage his playing time to avoid aggravating the issue.
Last month, a former club physician told Sport: “The priority is rest and physiotherapy. If you stop in time, in three or four weeks you can be there, it doesn’t heal in a week.
“It must be completely cured.”
The intense match schedule in modern football has sparked debate in recent years.
Top players like Rodri and Raphael Varane have voiced concerns about the demanding calendar, and Yamal is already experiencing the effects.
According to FIFPRO’s workload report published on October 7, Yamal has featured in 130 professional games, totaling 9,772 minutes by age 18.
That’s nearly twice as many as Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Cesc Fabregas had played at the same age.
In comparison, Lionel Messi didn’t debut for Barcelona until he was 17 and had only made 34 senior appearances by his 18th birthday.
Messi quickly became a regular starter, eventually winning 10 league titles and four Champions League trophies with Barcelona.
Cristiano Ronaldo had slightly more appearances than Messi at that age, but still only 36 senior games.
He too went on to become one of football’s most decorated players, securing 34 major trophies.
Yamal’s talent is undeniable, but Flick must be cautious with how often he plays.
Excessive game time could lead to long-term injury issues for the young Spaniard early in his career.
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