Lamine Yamal has been dealing with persistent groin pain over the past few weeks, limiting his ability to perform at his best in recent games, including last Sunday’s El Clásico. With the discomfort still ongoing, FC Barcelona and the 18-year-old star have reportedly reached a final decision regarding surgery to address the injury.
According to Diario Sport, Lamine Yamal has decided not to undergo surgery at this stage to treat his pubalgia. Although the star is still not feeling 100% fit, the young forward prefers to take a more conservative approach and monitor the injury’s progression before making any further decisions.
That said, the option of the surgery hasn’t been completely ruled out: if the pain persists, the option could be reconsidered later. While the specific treatment plan remains unclear, the decision to proceed with surgery is off the table, at least for the upcoming days.
Yamal’s injury has significantly impacted his performance
Yamal’s pubic injury first turned public during Spain’s September international break, when reports claimed he received pain-killing injections to play against Bulgaria and Turkey. The situation raised concern and frustration among Barcelona’s medical staff, while the pain has led Yamal to miss several games. The injury has since become a growing problem that continues to limit his explosiveness on the field.
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona during El Clasico.
Because of the groin pain, Yamal missed four La Liga matches (against Valencia, Getafe, Real Oviedo, and Sevilla) as well as Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League opener against Newcastle United. While Barça managed to win most of those games, their 4–1 defeat to Sevilla highlighted the team’s inconsistency without their teenage sensation.
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So far in the 2025–26 season, Yamal has recorded three goals and five assists in eight appearances, impressive numbers for a player whose main role is to be more of a playmaker than a finisher. Still, the groin issue was evident during El Clásico, where he appeared a shadow of the player who finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting.
Lionel Messi dealt with a similar pubalgia issue during his time at Barcelona in 2016, which sidelined him for several matches but didn’t require surgery. Barcelona’s upcoming schedule includes a La Liga clash with Elche on Sunday, followed by a UEFA Champions League fixture against Club Brugge on Wednesday, November 5, where Yamal’s expected to start in both of them, with the club carefully monitoring his physical condition.
