Barcelona and Lamine Yamal face Ramadan challenge

Robin Bairner

• 21 Feb 2026 15:26 GMT
• 5 min read

Feature

Barcelona face an additional challenge as they seek to beat Real Madrid to La Liga due to the scheduling of their matches during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Barca go into the Ramadan period, which started on 17 February, second in La Liga, two points behind Real Madrid, but with Lamine devoutly observing the religious festival, the Catalan side face a treacherous period.

The most valuable player in the world with an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €162.9m, the 18-year-old cannot eat or drink during daylight hours until 19 March - and the scheduling of Barcelona’s matches could not have been any worse.

Current ETV

Lamine Yamal

F, M (R)

Barcelona

Lamine Yamal

F, M (R)

Barcelona

€162.9M

ETV Range

€146.6M - €179.2M

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Barca’s tough Ramadan run

The Blaugrana face successive 4:15pm kick-offs at local time against Levante away, Villarreal at home, Athletic Club away and finally Sevilla at home.

This is a nightmare scenario for Lamine, who will be in his most depleted state when these games are played. He will not eat or consume any water from daybreak until sunset, which will be between 6:30pm and 7:00pm in Spain over the next month. In other words, his reserves will be empty.

There is some relief for Barcelona with regards their midweek matches during this period, as these will take place outside the fasting time.

Barcelona are well prepared

Barcelona have made a plan for the month ahead, Sport reports, with Hansi Flick and his staff not panicking.

Over recent seasons, the club has gained extensive experience of managing Muslim players through Ramadan.

“We have a clear plan: we monitor him, how we can help him, when he has to eat, when he has to train,” Flick said ahead of the match against Levante, also confirming that he is the only player in the Barcelona squad observing the festival.

Although there is the possibility of a lack of fluids increasing the chance of fatigue, cramps and muscle tears, Barca are confident in part because they will avoid the months of worst heat.

How does Lamine Yamal cope with Ramadan?

Lamine explained how he copes with the unique challenges of being a professional athlete during Ramadan in an interview with Sport last year, when he was on international duty.

“I get up at 4:00 a.m. to drink water and then I follow the same routine as my colleagues, except at lunchtime,” he said.

Why sleep can be a player’s biggest enemy during Ramadan

While there are three main elements that clubs and players will be focusing on this month, FIFPRO Medical Director Prof Dr Vincent Gouttebarge explained somewhat surprising that sleep can be a bigger issue than hydration or nutrition.

“During the month of Ramadan, a player’s body needs to adapt to an altered biological schedule. Therefore, sleep disturbance might have the biggest impact on a player. Your chronological clock is different than you are used to, and combined with the lack of nutrition and hydration during the day, it can be challenging to perform,” he explained.

“Naturally there is a shift to two meals for players observing Ramadan, with the biggest meal being before sunrise so that they can keep going throughout the day. Ideally that meal should be high in glycaemic foods – such as potatoes and rice – that are rich in energy, while the meal after sunset should be low-glycaemic foods.

“Hydration can be tricky, and we advise players to keep hydrated during the day and night as optimal as possible. It is not always possible to stay hydrated during the night of course, so it is about finding that balance between regular hydration and having a proper night of sleep. Cooling strategies can be employed to stop the loss of fluid through sweating, such as cold towels and mouth rinsing with water, while post-session cold showers can also help reduce fluid loss.”

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan in the Muslim calendar is a month of spiritual discipline, community, and inner renewal. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and is celebrated during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This means that each year, its time changes slightly.

It lasts 29-30 days from the waxing moon to the next crescent moon.

Participants fast from dawn to dusk, although those with chronic diseases, who are travelling, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, or during menstruation are excused.