Lamine Yamal faces a setback in the selection ahead of Finalissima, the 2026 World Cup, as the Spanish candidate suffers a serious injury

Lamine Yamal has become one of the players to look out for World Cup 2026not only because it will be his first performance at 18, but also because of whether he can help lead Spain through the tournament. However, with less than five months before the competition kicks off, Yamal took a hit for both teams World Cup and the Finalissima as one of the Spanish players has suffered a serious injury.

With Yamal covering the right flank and Nico Williams the left, Spain currently features two of the best wingers in the world, while the central striker role has changed in recent games. While Mikel Oyarzabal is seen as the first choice, one player who deserved more minutes is Samu Aghehowawho, despite his ambitions, will not participate in either the Finalissima or the World Cup.

FC Porto released a statement revealing this on Tuesday Samu Aghehowa suffered a right knee sprain and an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the last match. With a recovery time expected to take longer than six months, his participation in the 2026 World Cup is effectively ruled out.

The Dragons Sporting CP faced each other on Monday in a match for the top of Liga Portugal. In the match, which ended in a 1–1 draw at the Estádio do Dragão, Samu was substituted for Denis Gül at half-time after sustaining the injuryand the next day the club confirmed its seriousness.

Samu made his debut with the Spanish national team in November 2024 against Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. While the 21-year-old striker has played just 131 minutes in four games and is yet to score, he was a regular on head coach Luis de la Fuente’s callsmost recently he earned his first start against Bulgaria in October.

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During the 2025-2026 season with Porto, Samu has become one of the team’s breakout stars. he scored 20 goals in 32 games in all competitions, while in 2024–25 he scored 27 goals in 45 games. This new cruciate ligament injury represents a major setback in the attacker’s career. Not only is his strong form disrupted, but his chance of playing for Spain in March is also eliminated. Very definitive against Argentina and the World Cup in June.

Who will be Spain’s striker?

Spain has produced several attacking stars throughout its history, especially in recent decades. with strikers like David Villa, Fernando Torres, Raúl González and Fernando Morientes dominating the podium. Although talents like Yamal are the visible face of the current generation, no clear long-term figure has emerged to anchor that central role.

Of Alvaro Morata falling out of favor under De la Fuente, Oyarzabal is currently Spain’s first choice. The Red also have Ferran Torres as a more mobile option through the middle, along with 33-year-old Borja Iglesias as a more physical alternative, a profile closer to Samu’s, but with much more experience.