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Barcelona player Lamine Yamal has been removed from the Spanish national team due to chronic pubic pain. This syndrome requires continuous treatment and multidisciplinary monitoring to avoid carrier limitations and recurrence.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal was ruled out of the Spanish national team’s next match for the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers this Tuesday, the 11th. Barcelona’s sacking of the number 10 has once again shed light on his condition. According to Spanish media, he had been diagnosed with chronic pubic pain. In other words, 18-year-old athletes need constant attention throughout their careers.
In a statement, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) expressed its “surprise and displeasure” after being informed that Yamal had undergone an “invasive radiofrequency procedure” to treat his pain without prior notice from Barcelona. As a result, the player was left out of the squad for the games against Georgia and Turkiye, which were held on November 15th and 18th.
Experts explained that while Pabargia syndrome can affect anyone, it primarily affects high-performance athletes such as soccer players. earth. The most common symptoms are pain in the lower abdomen, pubic bone, or groin area, as reported in Yamal’s case.
Gustavo Dutra, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine graduate student in Botafogo, explains that the causes of pubic pain are multifactorial and can be caused by imbalances, past injuries, or “biomechanical overload.”
“This is commonly seen in high-performance sports with players accelerating, decelerating, suddenly changing direction, and kicking harder and harder. These are all complex, dynamic movements that soccer players make all the time,” he explains.
Orthopedic surgeons say the cause may be related to the mechanical and systemic function of the muscles, such as changes in the shape of the hip joint. He also mentions other causes, such as herniation or weakened structures in the groin or important muscles.
Despite the possible chronic nature of Yamal’s case, Dr. Dutra emphasizes that the syndrome is not an “incurable disease”, as speculated by the Spanish press. “Today, with regenerative medicine, we can apply regenerative substances to the pubic symphysis, tendons, and even bones. Additionally, we have the arsenal to control indoor training in the gym with less impact.”
“In work related to physical therapy, this can help prevent post-treatment problems and keep the athlete healthy. However, it is definitely an injury that can become chronic and ‘recurrence’,” warns the orthopedic surgeon.
Restrictions and recovery
Before the syndrome is actually diagnosed, the patient’s complaints usually include:
- Chronic pain in the pubic area. This may be located in the adductors, rectus abdominis and hip joints, or in the perineum of the testicles or anal area.
- It gets worse if you only support the floor with one leg.
- It gets worse when you do sit-ups and flex your trunk.
- Pain occurs when you touch the thighs and pubic bone area.
Lia Mesias, a sports physiotherapist with experience in Bahia’s medical sector and other advanced treatments, explains that the aim of recovery work is to ensure that the syndrome does not limit the patient’s functionality.
“We need to make sure that athletes do not get into conditions that limit themselves and interfere with their performance on the field. The most important aspect is the medical diagnosis and the physical therapist’s assessment. In this we understand the biomechanical aspects such as the level of recovery, the time of exposure to load, the level of movement, strength, mobility and stability,” he says.
In this context, the indications are conservative treatment, combining analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs with physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Surgery is indicated if the patient no longer responds to conservative treatment. “No matter how far you go, with load control, and with the right treatment for the athlete, sometimes the response is not good, so you have to consider the surgical process.”
“Given Yamal’s entire career, the team should have already considered the possibility of surgery, but it’s still a very difficult option because of the time he will be out,” he muses.
Physiotherapists emphasize that for conditions such as pubic pain, treatment can take up to six months. However, given the high demand in the sport, it would be difficult for Yamal, especially Barcelona’s number 10, to be completely absent for an extended period of time.
“The most important thing in cases like this is multidisciplinary work in collaboration with doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists and physical trainers. With proper assessment and appropriate treatment, the chances of recurrence are much lower,” says Lear.
She emphasized that in chronic cases, close monitoring is needed for the athlete to make a good long-term recovery, stating: “He will be treated permanently, but he will need special exercises for the rest of his career.”
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