Lamine Yamal injury update: hope at Barcelona over ligament damage

According to AS, tests have ruled out damage to the external lateral ligament, which would make his rehabilitation easier.

Lamine Yamal’s recovery has become a top priority for Barcelona. Since the club released a medical report last Monday, confirming that the young striker was dealing with “a grade one injury to the anterior intertibio-fibular ligament” and estimating an absence of “three to four weeks,” numerous expert opinions have emerged.

Many have questioned the diagnosis and the projected recovery time. Within the club, there has been some surprise—and not of the pleasant kind—at how readily some individuals have made judgments without access to the necessary evidence, let alone examining the player’s ankle firsthand.

According to AS, follow-up tests have downplayed the severity of the injury. Initially, the primary concern for the medical team at FC Barcelona was that the sprain Yamal suffered during the shock home loss against Leganés might have also affected the external lateral ligament of his ankle.

Fortunately, the tests ruled this out entirely. Yamal’s injury involves only part of the membrane covering the fibula and tibia—commonly referred to as the syndesmosis. This outcome significantly simplifies both the rehabilitation process and his time off the pitch, supporting the original estimate of a three-to-four-week recovery period.

Which games will Lamine Yamal miss for FC Barcelona?

Medical staff have also clarified that Yamal’s decision to continue playing for nearly 50 minutes after sustaining the injury did not worsen his condition.

During halftime, the player was examined, and after an initial assessment, his ankle was wrapped with a compression bandage. He was also given anti-inflammatories and painkillers, with instructions to request a substitution if he experienced any discomfort.

Despite this, there is some concern within the club due to the similarity of this injury to one he suffered just over a month ago, which kept him sidelined for about three weeks.

On that occasion, Yamal missed matches against Real Sociedad (1-0), Celta (2-2), and Brest (3-0) before returning against Las Palmas (1-2). Currently, it is expected that he will miss the upcoming LaLiga clash with Atlético de Madrid (21 December) and the Copa del Rey match against Barbastro (4 January). However, the focus remains on having him fully fit for the Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club (8 January).

The club is taking a cautious approach, ensuring the player will not be rushed back prematurely. His return will depend entirely on his recovery progress and how he feels during rehabilitation. Nevertheless, there is strong optimism that he will be in peak condition for the Super Cup match.

This confidence stems from three key factors: the injury is minor, no other ligaments are affected, and recovery from this type of issue is relatively straightforward.