Lamine Yamal will make his World Cup debut for Spain on Monday, June 10, against Cape Verde.
What happened?
He was ruled out for the rest of FC Barcelona’s season after coming off at half time during a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in April.
Luis de la Fuente, the national team manager, has spoken about Lamine Yamal's recovery, saying he's meeting all his objectives ahead of schedule.
Why it matters for Lamine Yamal
De la Fuente plans to give Lamine Yamal 15 to 20 minutes against Cape Verde, increasing his playing time against Saudi Arabia on June 21.
Lamine Yamal's progress has been closely watched in Spain, with his return to action being one of the hottest stories in the country.
What comes next?
Lamine Yamal could start against Ronald Araujo's Uruguay on June 26, but his return must be handled carefully due to the risk of a relapse.
FC Barcelona will be concerned about Lamine Yamal's playing time, as they aim for a “threepeat” of La Liga titles and the Champions League.
De la Fuente stated that Lamine Yamal will not start against Cape Verde, but will be given a chance to play in the fixture.
The decision to play Lamine Yamal in the World Cup opener has been made, with his fitness being closely monitored by the Spanish national team.
On June 10, Lamine Yamal will take to the field for Spain, marking his return to action after a lengthy injury layoff.
Luis de la Fuente's comments to The Guardian indicated that Lamine Yamal is recovering quickly, but his return to full fitness is still being carefully managed.