Last night on Monday, Spain played their first World Cup 2026 match against Cape Verde, which unexpectedly finished in a 0-0 draw. A number of FC Barcelona players were on the field. Luis de la Fuente’s starting lineup for this match included Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Gavi.
Two more Blaugrana players—Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal—took the field for Spain later in the second half. The Spanish coach brought them both in with the intention of scoring in the last stages of the game, but sadly, that goal never materialized.
Even so, Yamal’s debut on the field was noteworthy, mainly since it was his first World Cup match. As Mundo Deportivo has reported, this game also marked his comeback to a football field following a 55-day absence, making this the longest layoff of his career thus far.
Read Also:Man United Agree On Mateus Fernandes Transfer Gamble As Target Appeals For Move
During a league game between Barcelona and Celta Vigo on April 22, the winger sustained a leg injury. After that injury, he missed the final six La Liga games as well as Spain’s two pre-World Cup friendly against Peru and Iraq.
Yamal replaced his Barcelona colleague Gavi on the field in the 71st minute of Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde. Despite being overwhelming favorites to win, Spain had yet to score a goal, so his return came under more pressure than anticipated. Despite Yamal’s dangerous opportunities, the game finished without a goal.
The forward’s longest injury prior to this hiatus occurred in 2024, when he missed five games due to a sprained ankle that kept him out of action for 23 days. He then sustained another sprained ankle in December of that same year, which prevented him from playing for 21 days.
Lamine Yamal is already back on the field following the longest injury absence of his career. Before going back to Barcelona for the upcoming season, it was hoped that he would quickly regain his best form and assist Spain in their World Cup campaign.
