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.”
Less than two months remain until WrestleMania 42 from Las Vegas in April, and this Saturday marks a critical stop along the way. Chicago’s United Center will host the 16th WWE Elimination Chamber premium live event (7 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited), where the WrestleMania card will continue to be constructed.
The show will feature both men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches, during which six wrestlers, surrounded by a steel cage structure, work to pin or submit their opponents until one winner is left standing. That wrestler receives a championship opportunity at WrestleMania. CM Punk will also defend his World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown against Finn Bálor. And the Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee saga continues with the Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line.
Here are the notes, stats and Elimination Chamber history to know heading into Saturday’s event.
Men’s Elimination Chamber
Participants: Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, Je’Von Evans, Trick Williams and Jey Uso
1:04
Cody Rhodes: ‘I need to officially point at the WrestleMania sign’
Cody Rhodes previews the Elimination Chamber against Randy Orton, LA Knight, Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams, readying to punch his ticket to WrestleMania.
• The first Elimination Chamber match occurred 23 years ago at Survivor Series in 2002. Shawn Michaels won the match to become world heavyweight champion.
• There have been 36 men’s and women’s Elimination Chamber matches combined, 11 of which have produced new champions.
• Triple H and John Cena share the distinction of most Elimination Chamber victories with four each. Daniel Bryan is next with three. Cena is the most recent Elimination Chamber winner, having won the men’s match in 2025. He turned heel and claimed his record-setting 17th championship the following month at WrestleMania 41.
• This will be a record-setting 10th Elimination Chamber match for Orton. Chris Jericho and Cena sit two back of Orton in the record book with eight entrants. If Orton records two eliminations in Saturday’s match, he will tie Jericho for the most all time (10). Orton is the only participant in the match with an Elimination Chamber win. He won in 2014 and retained the world title on his way to the WrestleMania 30 main event.
• Rhodes has lost three consecutive PLE matches, dating back to Crown Jewel in October 2025. It is Rhodes’ longest PLE losing streak since he returned to the WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022. On Saturday, Rhodes will make his first Elimination Chamber appearance since his WWE return, but not his first ever. In his first WWE stint, he took part in the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match, won by Bryan in 2012.
• Uso won five straight WWE PLE matches from November 2024 to August 2025 — including his World Heavyweight Championship win at WrestleMania 41. Since then, he’s on a four-match PLE losing streak for the first time since 2020-21.
• Knight is looking for a change in luck at the Elimination Chamber. It has been more than a year since Knight has won a PLE match. Since Crown Jewel in November 2024, he has lost seven consecutive PLE bouts.
Women’s Elimination Chamber
Participants: Alexa Bliss, Tiffany Stratton, Rhea Ripley, Asuka, Kiana James and Raquel Rodriguez
• The first women’s Elimination Chamber match occurred in 2018. Bliss won the match and retained her “Raw” women’s championship. This will be the eighth women’s Elimination Chamber match in history.
• The only superstar with multiple women’s Elimination Chamber wins is Bianca Belair (2022 and 2025). Bliss or Asuka could join her on that list this weekend.
• Stratton is aiming to avoid her third straight WWE PLE loss after Liv Morgan eliminated her to win the Royal Rumble and Stephanie Vaquer defeated her to win the 2025 Crown Jewel Championship. Stratton hasn’t experienced a three-loss skid in PLE matches since her first three on the main roster in early 2024.
• Asuka has not won a match at a PLE event since Elimination Chamber in 2024, when the Kabuki Warriors defeated Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell to retain the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
• Rodriguez could earn her first career singles victory at a WWE PLE this weekend. Rodriguez, who holds the women’s record for tag title reigns with six, has accumulated only tag team victories in her WWE PLE career.
• Will anyone run the table in this match? Only one wrestler, Shayna Baszler in 2020, has ever recorded every elimination in an Elimination Chamber match.
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor
1:24
Previewing CM Punk vs. Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber
Arda Ocal previews a huge match for the world heavyweight title between CM Punk and Finn Balor at Elimination Chamber in Chicago.
• The winner of this match is destined for a WrestleMania collision with Roman Reigns. Bálor defeated Reigns on his first night on the WWE main roster — the July 25, 2016, edition of “Raw.”
• This will be CM Punk’s first PLE match in Chicago since he took down Jericho at Payback in 2013. Overall, he has wrestled in six WWE PLE matches from Chicago and has a 4-2 record. One of Punk’s two UFC fights also occurred in Chicago.
• Punk is in the midst of an impressive run. He has not lost a match in more than two months. During that stretch, he successfully has retained the World Heavyweight Championship in three television matches against Bron Breakker, AJ Styles and his Elimination Chamber opponent, Bálor.
• It has been two years since Bálor last won a PLE match. In fact, his last such win occurred at the 2024 Elimination Chamber. At that event, he and Damian Priest successfully defended their tag titles against Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Becky Lynch vs. AJ Lee
1:05
Best moments of WWE Elimination Chamber history
Relive some of the top moments of Elimination Chamber history as we gear up for Saturday’s event.
• Lee will compete in her first championship match in more than 11 years. Her last title bout occurred in December 2014, when she battled Nikki Bella at Tables, Ladders and Chairs … and Stairs for the Divas Championship.
• Lynch is 3-0 at Elimination Chamber. Her last such win occurred in 2024, when she won the women’s Elimination Chamber match.
• Lee will make her second career Chicago PLE appearance after she defeated Kaitlyn to win the Divas Championship at Payback in 2013.
Cristiano Ronaldo has acquired a 25% ownership stake in Spanish second division club UD Almeria.
The financial terms of the transaction, done through the Portugal captain’s CR7 Sports Investments company, have not been disclosed but the deal is considered a long-term strategic investment from Ronaldo.
“I have long had the ambition to contribute to football beyond the pitch,” Ronaldo said in a statement.
“UD Almería is a Spanish club with a strong foundation and clear growth potential. I wish to work with the team leading the club to support it in its new phase of growth.”
UD Almeria were taken over by a Saudi Investment group in May 2025.
Ronaldo, who turned 41 on Feb. 5, has in the past expressed his desire to own a football club once he retired.
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The former Real Madrid star last summer extended his contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr through June 2027 and is expected to captain Portugal this summer in what will be a record sixth World Cup.
UD Almeria president Mohamed al Khereiji is thrilled to have the five-time Ballon d’Or winner on board.
“He is considered the best on the pitch,” Al Khereiji said. “He knows the Spanish leagues very well and understands the potential of what we are building here both in terms of the team and the youth academy.”
Relegated to the second division in April 2024, Almeria are on course to gain promotion to Spain’s top fight this season. They are third in Spain’s second tier, two points adrift of leaders Racing Santander after 27 games.
Real Madrid have their eye on Arsenal‘s Gabriel Magalhães, and Chelsea remain keen on Aston Villa‘s Morgan Rogers.
Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.
Transfers home page | Men’s winter grades | Women’s grades
TRENDING RUMORS
– Real Madrid have made an enquiry about Arsenal center back Gabriel Magalhães, according to TeamTalk. The Premier League leaders quickly informedMadrid that the 28-year-old is not available at any price. Gabriel signed a long-term contract extension last summer. Having also secured deals to extend the stays of Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, Arsenal are reportedly determined to show that even a club as big as Madrid can’t take their top players.
– Chelsea remain confident that they can sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers despite the Villans stating that only an extraordinary offer would tempt them into even considering letting him go, reports TeamTalk. That figure will likely have to be over the £100 million Villa received from Manchester City for Jack Grealish in 2021. Chelsea have held a long-term interest in the 23-year-old, with their co-director of recruitment, Joe Shields, the person who originally took Rogers to City while leading the Citizens’ youth signings.
– Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are likely to face competition from Inter Milan to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka in the summer, reports CF Bayern Insider. Bayer Leverkusen are also keen on the 31-year-old, who will be a free agent with his contract in Bavaria expiring at the end of this season. Arsenal had tried to sign Goretzka in January, but the Germany international had already given Bayern his word that he would stay until the end of the campaign.
– Manchester United are closely monitoring the situation of Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye, as reported by Footmercato. The 27-year-old’s reputation has grown since he scored the winner against Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final, and he is also a key player for Villarreal. The World Cup offers Gueye another opportunity to impress on a big stage, yet he has already attracted plenty of interest, particularly from United who are looking to replace Casemiro following the announcement that the Brazilian will be leaving Old Trafford.
– Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford have all made checks on Eintracht Frankfurt right-back Nnamdi Collins, according to TeamTalk. Arsenal, in particular, are impressed by the 22-year-old and see similarities to Ben White, although Frankfurt have a strong negotiating position as Collins’ contract runs until 2030. Fellow Frankfurt full-back Nathaniel Brown has also been heavily scouted with Manchester United having looked at the 22-year-old.
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN’s Barcelona correspondent Sam Marsden takes a look at the club’s key transfer questions, including which striker they should sign:
Barça should sign a Kylian Mbappé or a Harry Kane, but they also should sign a center back, a fullback and a holding midfielder, probably another winger as well, so where will they streamline their spending? I would lean toward a center back.
But if it’s a striker, Julián Álvarez is well-liked within the club’s hierarchy. However, his recent form — no goals in 11 games before scoring against Barça last week — has raised doubts. Also, the fee Atlético would want for him is prohibitive — Barça sources have told ESPN they want well over €100 million. There is also no guarantee he would score more than Ferran Torres, who actually has five more league goals than Álvarez this season in 300 fewer minutes.
In that sense, Dusan Vlahovic could work as a free shot considering he will be out of contract this summer at Juventus, even if he would not excite supporters. Given how the market is and how much can change, I would advise Barça to sit tight for now and prioritise other areas until they can afford a proper investment in a striker.
OTHER RUMORS
1:26
Moreno: PSG could get exposed in Champions League knockouts
Alejandro Moreno reacts to PSG’s progression to the Champions League knockouts after a 5-4 aggregate win over Monaco.
– Brighton could drop their valuation for Carlos Beleba from over £100 million to around £70 million amid interest from Manchester United. (TEAMtalk)
– Casemiro wants to continue playing in Europe when he leaves Manchester United, with Italy being flagged as a possible destination for the midfielder. (The Sun)
– Manchester City and Arsenal are closely monitoring versatile Brighton midfielder Jack Hinshelwood. (Caught Offside)
– Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United have all closely watched 18-year-old Ajax midfielder Sean Steur in recent weeks. (TEAMtalk)
– Marcus Thuram could leave Inter Milan during the summer transfer window. (Nicolo Schira)
– Several foreign clubs have approached Marc Casado, but the midfielder is getting closer to extending his contract with Barcelona. (Nicolo Schira)
– Atletico Madrid have included Borussia Dortmund striker Fabio Silva on their shortlist of possible replacements for Julián Alvarez if the 26-year-old leaves in the summer. (Rudy Galetti)
– Tottenham want to move for Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the summer as they prepare to lose Guglielmo Vicario. (Football Insider)
– Crystal Palace view signing a replacement for Marc Guéhi as a priority during the summer transfer window. (The Standard)
– Premier League and top European clubs are tracking Brentford goalkeeper Matthew Cox‘s impressive form on loan at Shrewsbury Town. (Football Insider)
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