The 18-Year-Old Who Finished Second For World's Best Player Is BACK: What That Means For Spain

HOLY MOLY, Seattle! You gotta be kidding me! We all thought Lamine Yamal, the absolute phenom, was gonna be sidelined, maybe even miss big chunks of the World Cup, right? This kid, who just last year was runner-up for the Ballon d'Or for the world's best player, tore his left hamstring back in April playing for FC Barcelona. He was ruled out for the rest of their La Liga season, and it felt like a dagger for Spain. But listen up, because Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, just dropped a bombshell, and the Emerald City needs to hear this: Yamal could be fit for their World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15! Unbelievable!

From "Out for the Season" to "No Doubt" For The World Cup?

Seriously, this is the kind of news that makes you spill your coffee. Yamal went down hard on April 22 against Celta Vigo. A torn hamstring, brutal. The club ruled him out for the remainder of Barcelona's La Liga season, and given how serious those injuries can be, you'd be forgiven for thinking his World Cup dreams were in serious jeopardy, or at least severely limited. But hold up, because de la Fuente wasn't having any of that. The coach included Yamal on Spain's 26-man roster on May 25, which was the first hint of optimism, but even then, folks thought he might miss part or all of the group stage.

The man himself, de la Fuente, said he had "no doubt" Yamal would be available when he named him to the squad. "No doubt!" You hear that? That's the kind of confidence we love to see. And now, he expects Yamal to be fit to face Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15. This is huge for Spain, period. An 18-year-old who helped Spain snag the Euro 2024 title after turning 17 during that tournament, and already has six goals in 25 appearances for the national team? Yeah, you want that guy on the pitch.

The Catch: Patience and Process Are Key

Now, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, because the coach isn't saying he's a definite starter. De la Fuente was clear that while Yamal "could be ready" to play on June 15, it doesn't mean he "for sure will play." He's sitting out Thursday's friendly against Iraq, alongside fellow injured Spain players Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz, which makes sense to manage his recovery. Spain has a friendly against Peru in Mexico on Monday before they head to their training camp in Chattanooga, Tenn. This is all about getting him right.

The coach is talking about "maybe a few minutes," or even "just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match." They'll "have to evaluate." It's smart, careful management of a generational talent. But the bottom line is that the option is even on the table for the opener. After Cape Verde, Spain plays Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and then Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara. Having a player of Yamal's caliber potentially ready to contribute at any point in that group stage, especially after all the injury fears, is just massive. Get ready, folks, this World Cup is gonna be wild!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.