Spain breathed a collective sigh of relief Thursday afternoon. Teenage forward Lamine Yamal is officially cleared to start Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina after an injury scare sidelined him from squad practice. The panic started immediately following Spain’s bruising 2-0 semifinal victory over France, where Yamal was heavily targeted by the French defense and seen limping down the tunnel.
That lingering knock kept him out of regular team activities at Spain’s New Jersey base. Instead of joining the tactical preparations, Yamal and teammate Pedro Porro trained entirely isolated from the main squad. The absence instantly sparked online speculation that Spain might lose their most dangerous attacking threat just days before the biggest match in global football.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation stepped in to kill the rumors before they escalated. According to medical staff, the separate sessions had nothing to do with a new injury. Team doctors confirmed the two players were simply completing an individual workload recovery program designed to manage their fatigue after the highly physical semifinal.
Yamal already fought through a torn left hamstring earlier this April just to make the World Cup roster. Spain’s coaching staff is taking zero chances with his conditioning. The federation officially eased injury fears Thursday evening, stating Yamal has been fully cleared to face Lionel Messi and the defending champions.
Sunday’s final sets up a historic clash of generations. Spain is chasing only their second World Cup trophy in history, looking to replicate their 2010 glory. They will have to run through an Argentine squad hungry to secure back-to-back titles, and they will need a fully fit Yamal on the pitch to break down the South American defense.