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Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has defended Rodri, condemning recent media criticism of the Manchester City midfielder as insulting.
After the stalemate against Cape Verde in their opening game at the FIFA World Cup 2026 , Rodri came under stern criticism in the Spanish media for his perceived failure to up the tempo.
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He was replaced by Nico Williams in the 87th minute as Spain desperately chased a winner, having had a game-high 134 touches and played more passes than any other player (126, completing 116).
When responding to claims from the Spanish media that Rodri’s passing was too slow and slowed down the attack against Cape Verde, De la Fuente fired back, stating, “Good heavens, please. For you to say things like this. Some people can say one thing or another.
Despite the criticism, De la Fuente emphasized that Rodri remains the squad’s “guiding light,” providing vital vision, balance, and tactical clarity. He reiterated that the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner remains the best player in the world.
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“Rodrigo is the best player in the world, and even at 50% he’s much better than most midfielders in the world. Even at 50%. And with us, he’s a player of exceptional importance, with fantastic clarity and vision and balance. Rodrigo is a guiding light for us.”
Rodri serves as the absolute heartbeat for both Manchester City and the Spain national team. His unparalleled ability to dictate the tempo, break up opponent attacks, and recycle possession makes him arguably the most influential holding midfielder in modern football.
