Sports
Yamal is key for Barcelona and Spain, but is he headed for burnout?
It’s the second international break of the 2025-26 season and Lamine Yamal has a week off. That’s good news from the perspective of the 18-year-old really needing it, but the bad news for the Barcelona and Spain forward is that he will spend it recovering from injury after suffering a groin issue during the Champions League defeat against Paris Saint-Germain last Wednesday.
Lamal’s groin injury could simply be down to bad luck and the rigors of top-level football, but when the teenager’s incredible appearance numbers are factored in — 130 senior games and 8,158 minutes on the pitch by his 18th birthday — the shadow of burnout and the danger of football running its bigger young star into the ground becomes a worrying possibility.
No other elite footballer has registered anywhere close to the appearances and minutes clocked up by Yamal by the age of 18 and his workload has led to FIFPRO, the global players’ union, using his game-time for club and country as a case study in a 51-page report on the 2024-25 season titled “Overworked and Underprotected — Player Heath and Performance Impact.”
“The modern game’s rising intensity is challenging enough for established professionals, but for young players aged 16 to 20, the risks are even greater,” Dr Darren Burgess, Chair of FIFPRO’s High-Performance Advisory Network said. “At a stage when their bodies and minds are still developing, the demands of congested schedules and high-intensity training can have lasting consequences for both performance and career longevity.”
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So how much more active has Yamal been than his contemporaries? The answer to that is staggering, and perhaps alarming.
Yamal’s 130 appearances for Barcelona and Spain prior to his 18th birthday are almost twice as many as the second player on the list of current players among those two teams: Pau Cubarsí, the 18-year-old defender, registered 69 appearances, with midfielders Gavi (60) and Pedri (49) next.
Beyond Barcelona and Spain, Yamal’s numbers continue to be off the scale in comparison to those playing at a similar level.
Yamal’s sensational performances last year saw him named as the 2024 Golden Boy — the award presented by Italian newspaper Tuttosport to the most outstanding Under-21 footballer in Europe — and he did so having clocked up 8,158 minutes by his 18th birthday.
None of the three most recent winners — Jude Bellingham (2023), Gavi (2022) and Pedri (2021) — come close. Bellingham was nearest, with 6,216 minutes by his 18th birthday, while Gavi (4,195) and Pedri (3,811) both had significantly lower minutes.
Bellingham’s workload has often been cited as a concern, with the Real Madrid and England midfielder having been a regular at club level since breaking through as a 16-year-old at Birmingham City, but the now-22-year-old did not make his 100th senior appearance until he was 18 years and 10 months old.
Guess what? Yamal became the youngest player ever to reach 100 games by hitting the mark aged 17 years and seven months — eclipsing previous record holder Romelu Lukaku by four months.
So far in his prodigious career, since making his Barcelona debut aged just 15 years, nine months and 16 days against Real Betis in April 2023, Yamal has been relatively untroubled by injury, missing just 18 games for Barca and Spain in that time, including Sunday’s LaLiga clash against Sevilla, but according to Transfermarkt, his injuries have already amounted to 133 days out of action since his club debut.
And if Barcelona’s worst fears are confirmed, Yamal’s latest injury could keep him out of action for up to a month, ruling him out of Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria over the next week and putting his participation in El Clasico against Real Madrid on Oct. 26 in doubt.
“We don’t know when Lamine will return because with this injury,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said on Friday. “It’s not easy to say since it’s not a muscle injury. We don’t know if he’ll be back in two, three, or four weeks, so I don’t know if he’ll be ready for the Clasico. We have to manage his minutes. He’ll take it step-by-step.”
There is already clear tension between Barcelona and Spain over the national team’s handling of the player, however. Flick, who coached Germany between leaving Bayern Munich in 2021 and joining Barcelona in 2024, was pointed in his criticism of Spain’s use of Yamal during the September World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s a shame,” he said. “He [Yamal] went to the national team in pain, played and was given painkillers to play. He played 79 minutes and 73 — that’s not taking care of the players.
“Spain has the best players in every position. It would be worth taking care of the young players. I’m sad about the situation, but it’s like they are doing this [to them].”
In response, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente questioned Flick’s comments, saying he “was surprised, given that he [Flick] is a manager who has also coached a national team and I thought he would have had more empathy.”
1:12
Hislop: Yamal will compete for the Ballon d’Or every year
Shaka Hislop believes it’s only a matter of time before Lamine Yamal claims his own Ballon d’Or trophy.
Yamal isn’t the first young player to himself at the center of club versus country tension.
Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, two players who shot to international stardom at major tournaments with England at the age of 18, constantly found themselves in the starting XI for club and country, and both have since admitted to rushing back into action too soon for the national team following lengthy injury battles.
Owen and Rooney were also well past their best and discarded by England by the age of 30, so there are warning signs for Yamal to heed.
“Physically, exposing teenagers to repeated match and training loads designed for fully mature players increases the risk of overuse injuries,” Burgess, who is also a former high-performance director at Arsenal and Liverpool, said. “Growth plates, tendons, and ligaments remain vulnerable during these years, and excessive high-speed running or short recovery windows can lead to long-term structural damage.
“What might begin as a minor issue — a recurring hamstring strain, a stress fracture — can quickly become a pattern that follows a player throughout their career. Perhaps the greatest cost of all is lost potential. A player rushed into the spotlight too soon, without adequate protection and progressive development, may see their career shortened before it ever truly begins.”
Barcelona and Spain, therefore, have a huge responsibility to Yamal and other youngsters who pull on their iconic jerseys. At 18, Yamal has the world at his feet and could be the natural heir to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he won’t have a chance if he burns out before he hits 30.
“If the sport is serious about nurturing the next generation, it must prioritize development over exploitation,” Burgess said. “Only then will today’s young talents have the chance to become tomorrow’s enduring stars.”
Manchester United are keeping tabs on 17-year-old Ajax star Jorthy Mokio, alongside Newcastle United and Eintracht Frankfurt while Rennes duo Jérémy Jacquet and Mohamed Meïté are on the radar of the Red Devils. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
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TRENDING RUMORS
– Highly rated Ajax star Jorthy Mokio is on the radar of Man United, Newcastle United, and Eintracht Frankfurt, according to Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sports Switzerland. Mokio, 17, is under contract until 2027 but talks have stalled over new terms and he is reportedly looking to take the next step in his career. The defensive midfielder, who made his senior Belgium debut in March, can also play as a center back and left back, which makes him a valuable option to have.
– Man United are also keeping tabs on Rennes duo Jérémy Jacquet and Mohamed Meite, according to The Sun. The report claims that a scout was spotted at Rennes’ 1-0 win at Paris FC on Nov. 7 and revealed they were there to watch defender Jacquet, 20, who has played every minute so far this season, and 18-year-old striker Meita, who is considered more of a youth prospect. Arsenal and Crystal Palace were strongly linked with a move for Jacquet last summer, before he extended his contract with until 2029.
– Al Ahli striker Ivan Toney is considering taking a 50% salary cut in order to move back to the Premier League to aid his chances of playing for England at the World Cup, according to TEAMtalk. Toney, 29, has scored 11 goals in 15 games this season, and 41 goals in 59 appearances in total since his £40 million move to Saudi Arabia from Brentford in 2024, but believes he needs to return to a higher level to give him any chance of making Thomas Tuchel’s squad next summer. Tottenham Hotspur remain favorites to sign him, but face competition from Everton.
– Crystal Palace believe Liverpool are the only club interested in signing center back Marc Guéhi in the January transfer window, according to Sky Sports. Guehi’s contract runs until the end of the season and he’s free to sign a pre-contract agreement with any club outside England from Jan. 1. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all reported to be keen, but Liverpool are expected to make the first move when the window opens as they have lost Giovanni Leoni to a long-term injury and there is uncertainty around Ibrahima Konaté‘s future.
– Fiorentina‘s primary target for January is Chelsea‘s 19-year-old defender Josh Acheampong, according to Tuttomercatoweb. Acheampong has had chances in the first team but is reported to be open to a move away and the Serie A team are considering a loan with an option to sign him permanently. If they can’t pull that off then Chelsea center back Axel Disasi, 27, is another target as he has been frozen out of the first-team squad.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen looks at Rennes’ two young stars.
In only his first full year of his top-flight career, Jacquet has emerged as one of the most promising young center backs in France. What makes him stand out at this early stage is how complete he already looks.
His standout traits are his game-reading and calmness; he is composed on the ball — seven progressive passes per 90 minutes this season — and measured when defending. He rarely overcommits, preferring to wait out the attacker and win the ball cleanly, either through an interception or controlled sliding challenge … which has become a signature feature of his game.
Jacquet moves fluidly, hits top speed quickly and consistently looks like he has an extra gear even when up against the speediest opponents. While at 6-foot-2 he isn’t that imposing, he compensates with an impressive vertical leap and his 74% aerial win rate is the best in Ligue 1 among center backs with more than 1,000 league minutes this season.
Then, at the other end of the pitch, Meïte is in the process of establishing himself as a No. 9 prospect. At 6-foot-4, the 18-year-old offers the classic physical profile of a target man and has won 75% of his duels off the ground this season, but he also has more mobility and finesse — flicks, good touch, clever lay-offs — than his size may suggest.
Last season he was brought up from the reserves and produced two goals in 12 league games. This season he has continued to earn the trust of his manager, registering just short of 600 senior minutes and adding a small-but-steady stream of goal contributions while generating 13 shots (he’s a high-volume shooter at 3.4 shots per 90) on target.
The France U21 international’s defining feature is arguably his penalty-box presence. He attacks crosses with confidence, uses his body intelligently to fend off opponents, and is able to find space to run on either side of the center backs. The fact he has already started high-profile games ahead of more established forwards reflects how highly Rennes rate him.
OTHER RUMORS
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– Paris Saint-Germain are hoping to beat Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid to the signing of Lille’s 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi for a fee of around €45 million. (Ekrem Konur)
– VfB Stuttgart defensive midfielder Angelo Stiller would prefer to join Real Madrid over Manchester United. (Defensa Central)
– Arsenal midfielder Ethan Nwaneri could leave on loan in January in an effort to get more games under his belt. (Daily Mail)
– Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, 33, could move to Besiktas on loan in January, with a permanent option. (Sport)
– Bayern Munich and Barcelona are exploring the possibility of signing left back Alejandro Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen. The 30-year-old prefers a return to Spain, which suits Leverkusen, who would much rather he left for LaLiga than join their Bundesliga rivals. (Marca)
– Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen could leave the Blues in January after just 18 months at the club as he seeks more game time. (TalkSPORT)
– Inter Milan are battling with Napoli over the signing of Genoa’s 24-year-old midfielder Morten Frendrup, who they see as a more realistic target than Roma’s Manu Kone. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– AC Milan are on the lookout for a defender in January, and top of their list — should they fail to land 41-year-old Thiago Silva from Fluminense — is Udinese center back Thomas Kristensen. The 23-year-old could be available for a fee of €20 million. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
– Juventus have made contact with Lecce over young Portuguese defender Tiago Gabriel. The Bianconeri could offer a loan player in order to fend off competition from Brentford, who are reported to be lining up a €20 million bid. (Tuttosport)
– Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza is attracting interest from all over Europe, with Arsenal, Real Madrid, Valencia and Como all interested in the Spain U20 star. (Informacion)
– Real Betis, Dinamo Zagreb, Mainz and Bologna are all monitoring the situation of Girona goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, who is in search of more minutes to ensure he stays as Croatia No.1 ahead of the 2026 World Cup. (Ekrem Konur)
– Spanish goalkeeper and free agent Vicente Guaita is closing in on a one-year deal with Parma, who are desperate for cover following an injury to regular No. 1 Zion Suzuki. (Fabrizio Romano)
– Roma are considering a move for Tottenham Hotspur forward Mathys Tel who is reported to be unhappy in London following his move from Bayern Munich. The Giallorossi are also tracking Marseille midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
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The Buffalo Bills were upset by the Houston Texans on Thursday night, 23-19.
The game came down to a game-deciding Bills drive in the final two minutes. The Bills extended the drive by converting on a 4th and 27 with a lateral pass to Khalil Shakir. But the Bills could not convert on a 4th and 6 in the Texans red zone, when Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen threw a game-ending interception.
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass under pressure from Houston Texans defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (72) in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The Texans have now beaten the Bills for the second year in a row, and pulled it off with backup quarterback Davis Mills under center. Mills has improved to 3-0 as the team’s quarterback this year in place of the injured CJ Stroud.
Mills had one of his better games as a pro Thursday, passing for 153 yards with two touchdowns.
Fox One/Fox Nation special promotion. (Fox News)
Meanwhile, the Texans’ defense had eight sacks on Allen, and even forced him out of the game temporarily with a wrist concern in the first half.
With the win, the Texans move to 6-5 on the season and remain in the hunt for the AFC wild card race. The Texans are now just half a game behind the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final wild card spot.
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Houston Texans’ Will Anderson Jr. (51) and Denico Autry (96) celebrate after Anderson sacked Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
The Bills fell to 7-4 and lost ground to the New England Patriots in the AFC East race.
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PERTH: England elected to bat first against Australia in the Ashes series opener on Friday after captain Ben Stokes won the toss under clear blue skies at Perth Stadium.
After naming a 12-man squad for the match, the visitors opted for all-out pace in the starting side, leaving out off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in favour of Brydon Carse.
“We’ll try and get some runs on the board and then see where we are then,” Stokes said. “We’ve got to clear all of what we want to achieve out here in Australia, it starts today.”
Australia’s Steve Smith, standing in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, struck an optimistic tone after losing the toss.
“Hopefully it seams all over the place this morning. I think the cracks will come into play, they seem to every year,” said Smith. “I think if we get the ball in the right areas this morning, there’ll be enough there for sure.”
Australia awarded first test caps to specialist opener Jake Weatherald and fast bowler Brendan Doggett, who put his hand up for selection with 13 wickets in two matches for South Australia in a dynamic start to the domestic Sheffield Shield season.
“He sort of glides through the crease, makes it look pretty easy,” pace spearhead Mitchell Starc said of Doggett.
“So, yeah, he’s got some air speed, he’s got some great skills, some swing, some seam and he’s coming off a hot streak, so hopefully that continues this week.”
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland, Brendan Doggett
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Mark Wood
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