The Spanish national team has confirmed that Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been ruled out of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria.
Rodri suffered a discomfort in Manchester City’s 1-0 win over Brentford on Sunday, and was replaced in the 21st minute.
He has featured just 15 times since the 2023-24 season and missed last weekend’s 5-1 victory over Burnley because of knee pain.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed in a statement on Monday that Rodri will miss the World Cup qualifiers.
The statement read: “Rodrigo Hernández has been withdrawn from the Spain squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Georgia in Elche and Bulgaria in Valladolid due to injury.
“The decision follows medical reports provided by his club to the RFEF medical staff, after he was substituted during Sunday’s match between Brentford and Manchester City.”
Rodri was a key part of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph but suffered a serious knee injury in September of that year, missing the majority of last season.
The 28-year-old is revealed that it is not a serious injury.
Rodri said: “I felt a little bit in the hamstring – but it seems as though it’s not that much.
“I stretched a bit, like in the final of the Euros [when he had to go off injured]. But the most important thing is it’s not that big.
“I don’t feel that I feel tired muscle wise, I feel fresh but the most important thing is it’s not that big. It’s part of the process. The good thing about this is you get out, you don’t let the muscle stretch now. The good thing is the break so it will be even better in this sense to recover these days and hopefully I can be in the next game.”
Meanwhile, Man City coach Pep Guardiola, confirmed the nature of the injury while expressing disappointment at losing the influential midfielder.
He said: “It’s muscular. Of course, I don’t want to lose him [at all] because he is such an important player. We tried to take care of him, but it is what it is.
“Rodri is an outstanding player, everyone knows it, maybe he struggled to understand it’s not about six months or 12, the World Cup will be the best Rodri and next season will be the best Rodri, this year is how to handle it. One year he has been out. The body changes, the rhythm changes, it’s a question of time, if he’s healthy he will be back.”
Spain has enjoyed an impressive start to the World Cup qualifiers with two wins from two matches against Bulgaria, and Turkey, scoring nine goals.
The European Champions will also be without Barcelona wonder kid Lamine Yamal for the matches due to injury.
