Rodri Sidelined: Spain’s Midfield Maestro to Miss Crucial World Cup Qualifiers Due to Injury

Spain's football squad is dealt a huge setback ahead of their 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria as star midfielder Rodri is ruled out with injury. Manchester City midfielder Rodri picked up a suspected hamstring injury in his side's narrow 1-0 win over Brentford, which saw him substituted early in the 21st minute.

Rodri, having just come off an eight-month break following a severe knee injury, was hopeful for his form in the present. The ache felt in his hamstring being minute and emphasizing the necessity of pulling out to prevent further harm were his words. His medical evaluations still led to his withdrawal from the Spanish team irrespective of his reassurances.

Spain, who started the qualifiers with a dominating opening on two wins and nine goals, will now be required to reset their midfield approach. The loss of Rodri, a central player in Spain's victory in the Euro 2024, puts pressure on the team to keep the momentum going. Added to that is the absence of emerging star Lamine Yamal, who is also injured.

Rodri’s club manager acknowledged the midfielder’s importance and the difficulty of managing his recovery, noting that his body is still adjusting after a long layoff. Spain’s coaching staff now faces the task of filling the void left by two key players as they aim to secure qualification for the World Cup.