What's Holding Back a Struggling and Frustrated Lamine Yamal?

Barcelona got off to a flying start in the 2026–27 campaign despite a forgettable outing from Lamine Yamal, leaving many to wonder what is going on with the struggling young superstar.

Hansi Flick's men had little difficulty taking apart Elche in a commanding 5–0 opening day win. Fermín López and Raphinha each scored twice, while summer arrivals Karim Adeyemi and Anthony Gordon combined for a goal and two assists between them. Yamal, by contrast, was withdrawn at the 60-minute mark without registering a single goal contribution.

Beyond the below-par display by his elevated standards, the most enduring image of Yamal's evening was the visibly downcast and frustrated body language he showed for large stretches of the match, particularly when cameras caught him on the bench looking utterly deflated after being substituted, seemingly close to tears.

The typically bubbly, grinning and exuberant winger was anything but that during his first appearance of the new season, and his level on the field was a far cry from the one that has led many to already regard him as the finest player on the planet. So what is the issue?

Yamal Yet to Recover Peak Level Following Hamstring Injury

Yamal had his most prolific season with Barcelona in 2025–26, but his outstanding displays went well beyond goals and assists, consistently producing moments of brilliance that firmly put him in the running for the Ballon d'Or.

Then came a hamstring tear sustained against Celta Vigo, which brought his season to a premature end on April 22. Barcelona still managed to coast to the La Liga title, and Yamal recovered in time to represent Spain during its triumphant 2026 World Cup campaign. However, he has not looked the same player since.

The full extent of the hamstring tear's lasting impact remains unclear, but Yamal has yet to rediscover the form he showed before the injury. Spain still claimed its second world title despite the teenager netting just once and providing no assists throughout La Roja's memorable eight-game run.

Lamine Yamal's Stats in Last Nine Official Games Before and After Injury

This is not the first time Yamal has had to cope with a serious muscular setback, having dealt with Pubalgia during the early stages of the 2025–26 season, an issue that hampered him well into the winter months.

While it is true that Yamal needed some time to rediscover his best after the Pubalgia, the recovery process did not take as long as it is taking now, and perhaps more crucially, it did not alter his style of play. At present, seemingly for the first time in his career, the typically fearless Yamal appears tentative, avoiding his trademark dribbles and often looking erratic in both his decision-making and his final pass or shot.

Yamal is clearly fit enough to feature, but he has equally clearly not regained the confidence that has underpinned his brilliance since he first burst onto the scene. It may only be a matter of time before he finds his rhythm and returns to his peak, but it was striking to see him complete just one of two attempted dribbles against Elche, given that he completed nine of 16 the last time he played a full game for Barça.

The teenager also created just one chance on Sunday, compared to the eight he produced the last time he took to the pitch at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero earlier in the year.

Issues Off The Pitch

In recent days, reports emerging from Spain have indicated that Yamal has not been particularly happy with Barcelona's activity during the summer transfer window, especially regarding player departures.

Several outlets reported that Yamal is unhappy with the club's efforts to move on three of his closest friends in the squad — players he has been tight with since his academy days. Héctor Fort is heading to Real Sociedad, Marc Casadó has been heavily linked with a move away throughout the summer and was absent from Barça's squad against Elche.

Adding to that was Flick's decision to leave Alejandro Balde out of the squad for the Elche match, publicly questioning the left-back's dedication to the club amid mounting transfer speculation.

There is no confirmation that these developments have affected Yamal's mindset, but it is a situation worth keeping a close eye on in the final week of the window. The star's low mood may simply stem from his recent string of underwhelming performances, but Flick was supportive of his key man and offered an alternative explanation for what might be going on.

Flick Backs Yamal, Explains Season Debut Struggles

Flick was questioned about Yamal's muted display against Elche and the widely circulated images of him looking despondent on the bench following his substitution. The German manager addressed the matter, fully standing by his player while revealing he had been dealing with illness symptoms.

"He had a little problem. He had some headaches the day after," Flick admitted. "But at the end, Lamine is a genius, we all know that. It's normal, he had three weeks of holidays and now he worked or trained only a few days.

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"So he could not be on his top level, this is normal. So we have to find also the solution, step by step, that he comes back on his best level. But I'm very, very thankful because he played 60 minutes and also the first two goals he was totally involved in the situations.

"He was very helpful for the game," Flick added. "And he's doing good, so he goes day by day, we have to see how's the game tomorrow. But we accept him, we need him because he is outstanding and we need him."

Barcelona are set to face Athletic Club on Thursday evening in the 2026–27 home opener at the Camp Nou. It will be an opportunity for Yamal to shake off his recent struggles with a standout performance that truly kicks his season into gear.