Lamine Yamal trains alone at Ciutat Esportiva

Lamine Yamal spent Sunday, May 24, at Barcelona’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper while the rest of the squad had begun its break after the end of the club season, according to AS. The report said the 18-year-old forward was the only Barcelona player at the training complex as he continued recovery work ahead of Spain duty. Daily Beirut, citing the same recovery push, said Yamal was training alone as he tried to be ready for Spain’s World Cup campaign. Barcelona-related outlets also reported this weekend that Yamal shared the 2025-26 Zarra Trophy with Ferran Torres after both finished as the club’s top Spanish scorers in La Liga. ### Why was Yamal back at the training ground while teammates were off? AS reported on May 24 that Yamal was the only Barcelona player to go to the Ciutat Esportiva on Sunday to continue his rehabilitation. The report framed the session as part of an individual recovery plan rather than a return to normal team training. A separate report carried by Daily Beirut said Yamal was working alone as he pursued full fitness for Spain’s World Cup commitments. (as.com) FutbolFantasy, echoing the Spanish reporting, said he worked with physiotherapist Pablo Merino at the training ground while the rest of the squad were on holiday. ### What is he recovering from? Recent reports around Barcelona said Yamal has been dealing with a hamstring injury that interrupted the end of his season. Yahoo Sports, citing earlier reporting, said he was sidelined with a hamstring problem while working toward recovery before the World Cup. Other reports in May said his program had already moved into isolated on-pitch work at the Ciutat Esportiva. (dailybeirut.com) That sequence fits the latest update from AS that he remained on an individual schedule rather than rejoining group sessions. ### How does this fit into Spain’s World Cup plans? Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has already described Spain as one of the favorites for the 2026 World Cup, according to Yahoo Sports, and Spanish media have consistently listed Yamal among the key names in the squad picture. (sports.yahoo.com) TodoAlicante said Barcelona players including Pedri, Pau Cubarsí, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Yamal would form the backbone of Spain’s group. (sports.yahoo.com) FIFA’s match page lists Uruguay against Spain as one of Spain’s World Cup group-stage fixtures, and match databases list that game for June 27, 2026. That date, rather than the July 27 date cited in one secondary report, aligns with the tournament schedule running in June and July. (todoalicante.es) ### What did Yamal achieve before this recovery stretch? Barcelona-linked coverage on May 24 said Yamal and Ferran Torres shared the Zarra Trophy for the 2025-26 season. Barca Blaugranes and other reports said both players finished with 16 league goals, enough to share the award for the top Spanish scorer in La Liga. (fifa.com) Barcelona’s official player page also describes Yamal’s season under Hansi Flick as a landmark campaign, saying he scored 18 goals and provided 21 assists across competitions. That output helps explain why his fitness status is being watched closely before Spain begin tournament play. ### Who else is expected at Barcelona’s training base? (barcablaugranes.com) Daily Beirut reported that Marc-André ter Stegen is also expected to be present at the Ciutat Esportiva next week as he continues his own recovery. The report said the goalkeeper’s injury had ruled him out of Germany’s World Cup call-up. (fcbarcelona.com) Spain’s next concrete milestone is its World Cup group-stage schedule in June, with Uruguay listed among the opponents on FIFA’s tournament coverage. Barcelona’s immediate watchpoint is whether Yamal progresses from solo recovery sessions into fuller training before those matches. (fifa.com) (dailybeirut.com)