Madrid, October 6, 2025– In a twist that has shaken the world of Spanish football, Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old prodigy of FC Barcelona, ​​has declined the national team call-up for the crucial 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Georgia and Bulgaria. What could have been a mere absence due to injury has turned into a drama of epic proportions, with the young winger revealing an “important personal reason” that has left both coach Luis de la Fuente and thousands of rojigulos fans frozen. “I cannot participate in the national team training camp for an important personal reason, and I believe it is the right decision,” Yamal wrote in an open letter published on his social networks, unleashing a whirlwind of speculation and disappointment.

The story begins last Thursday, when De la Fuente, aware of the recurring discomfort in Yamal’s pubic area – a problem that has plagued him since his return from the Euro Cup – decided to include him on the official list for the FIFA Days in October. The coach, who sees the attacking midfielder as one of the pillars of his project, argued that “if he plays for Barça, he can play with us.” However, Yamal, in a private conversation with De la Fuente, was blunt: he rejected the invitation, prioritizing his physical and mental health. “I trained with painkillers in the club’s last games, but I know that forcing now could end my season. This is my personal reason: I need time to recover 100%, not only for Barça, but to give my best to Spain in the future,” the player explained in the letter, which quickly accumulated millions of views.

De la Fuente’s reaction was immediate. In an improvised press conference this Friday, the Maragato coach did not hide his frustration. “I have been deeply disappointed. Lamine is a unique talent, and his absence weakens us at a key moment to seal qualification for the World Cup. I asked him for a sincere explanation, and although I understood it, it hurts that he prioritizes the personal over national duty. We were waiting for his magic in Elche and Valladolid,” he declared, visibly upset. Sources close to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) reveal that De la Fuente requested a detailed medical report from Barcelona on Thursday, but the Catalan club, led by Hansi Flick, supported Yamal’s decision, arguing that “the player’s well-being is paramount.” This position has fueled tensions between the Camp Nou and Las Rozas, recalling past episodes such as the controversy over injury management in the Euro Cup.

Fans, for their part, have expressed collective disappointment on social media. Under the hashtag #YamalVuelveYa, thousands of messages lament the loss of the boy from Rocafonda, who at only 18 years old already has 15 goals and 20 assists in the 2025-26 season with Barça. “He is our future, but at what price? We understand his health, but he leaves us lame against Georgia,” tweeted a fan from Madrid. The RFEF has covered the absence with Borja Iglesias from Celta de Vigo, an unexpected substitute who brings his own baggage: the forward, nicknamed the “Panda”, resigned from the national team in 2023 due to the Rubiales scandal, which has generated ironies in the press. “From ‘woke’ to savior: Borja enters where Yamal leaves,” joked a Marca columnist.

This decision by Yamal is not only a tactical setback – Spain, leader of its group with 18 points, needs points to avoid scares in the final phase – but a reflection of the player’s precocious maturity. Born in 2007 in Esplugues de Llobregat, Yamal debuted with the Blaugrana first team at the age of 15 and was crowned Euro 2024 with a historic goal in the final. But the accumulated wear and tear – more than 80 games in two seasons – has taken its toll. Barça’s medical statement estimates that he will be out for 2-3 weeks due to the pubic relapse, which was aggravated after the duel against PSG in the Champions League. Flick, at a press conference, defended his pupil: “Lamine is human, not a machine. His explanation was honest, and prioritizing his recovery is the right thing to do. He will come back stronger.”

The episode has reignited the debate about the burden of young talent in modern football. According to a FIFA report, players under the age of 21 suffer 30% more injuries due to overuse than a decade ago, and cases like Yamal’s illustrate the conflict between clubs and national teams. De la Fuente, for his part, does not close the door: “I save a place for him, but I hope he reflects. Spain is his home.” Meanwhile, the matches on October 11 and 14 will be played without the brilliance of Yamal, leaving a void that Iglesias will try to fill.

In a sport where loyalties are divided, Yamal’s “personal reason” – that mix of health and conviction – has reminded us that even heroes need breaks. La Roja continues forward, but with a bittersweet taste. Will Yamal return renewed for the Classic or the Nations League? Only time, and his pubes, will tell.