Why Lamine Yamal is struggling this season - according to a doctor

Martin Macdonald

• 28 Oct 2025 10:00 CDT
• 3 min read

News

Lamine Yamal is allegedly only operating at 50% capacity currently due to ongoing injury issues.

The 18-year-old wonderkid is not firing on all cylinders in the 2025/26 campaign as although he does have six goal contributions in six La Liga matches so far, he has missed a handful of games due to injury.

He was uncharacteristically subdued during Barcelona's 2-1 loss against Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday.

His game relies on explosive bursts of movement down that right-hand side, usually cutting inside on that cultured right foot to get a cross or a shot away.

On Sunday, there was very little of that.

His lowkey performances are apparently down to an issue known as pubalgia which can cause stress and pain in the pubic and groin region.

The intensity of the pain can come and go which is why Yamal sometimes plays and sometimes doesn't. Barca needed him at the weekend as key attackers Raphinha and Robert Lewandowsi were already missing due to injuries of their own.

Renowned sports traumatologist Doctor Pedro Luis Ripoll told El Larguero:

"It is an injury that is frankly difficult to treat. It's characterised by pain that reduces the player's ability to move and shoot by almost 50%, which is exactly what we saw in El Clasico.

“He hardly shoots at goal, he has difficulty moving, he constantly stretches… It’s a disabling pain that allows the player to participate in matches but keeps him from his best level and significantly diminishes his performance.”

Ripoll went on to state that the injury could take months to fully heal, but Yamal's continued participation in matches naturally impacts his recovery.

Raphinha criticises team-mate Yamal after Real Madrid comments

Raphinha criticised club-mate Yamal for running his mouth before El Clasico on Sunday.

In a heated environment, Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid side claimed a 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu, with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham negating Fermin Lopez’s reply for the Blaugrana.

The match was charged in the hours before kick-off by comments made by Lamine that Real Madrid “rob, complain and do things” to influence the outcome of matches.

Alonso’s players took exception to these words, with Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior among the Real Madrid stars who told the teenager in no uncertain terms that he talks too much as the match ended with a significant brawl.

Raphinha, who was on the sidelines watching on due to a hamstring injury that might keep him out for another month, was forced to agree with this assessment as he spoke to DANZ after the game.

“He was guilty of being young and lacking maturity to say what he said. His words gave Real Madrid extra motivation,” the Brazil international said (via Defensa Central)

Certainly, the winger himself looked distracted as he failed to make an impact on he game.

Barcelona’s assistant coach Marcus Sorg admitted after the game: “I think he's lacking spark after the injury. He needs rhythm and more games. It's normal; he's 18 years old, and we have to help him. It's normal. The defenders try everything against him. We have to work harder with him.”

Vini Jr was caught explaining the situation to Brazil colleague Raphinha: “What he did before the match isn’t done, it’s not what a good team-mate does.”

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