All posts tagged: Rodri

FIFA charges Argentina for players’ conduct, Falklands banner

FIFA charges Argentina for players’ conduct, Falklands banner

2 min readUpdated: Jul 30, 2026 12:08 AM IST FIFA on Wednesday lodged disciplinary charges against two Argentina players for their on-field conduct vs Spain after the World Cup final. They also charged Argentina’s football federation for players showing a political banner about the Falkland Islands after beating England in the semifinals. A list of disciplinary cases opened by FIFA against Argentina also include “discriminatory chants and gestures” by fans, alleged assault by an assistant coach after the final and “throwing of objects by spectators in relation to several matches” at the World Cup. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes faces three charges of assault in the post-game clashes after Spain’s 1-0 win on July 19, defender Nahuel Molina faces two charges and coach Roberto Ayala one. Molina and Thiago Almada also are charged with unsporting behavior, with the same charge leveled against Spain player Gavi. Paredes, who was seen in a scuffle with Spain’s Eric Garcia and Gavi, was given a red card which has since been ‘deleted’ by the sport’s governing body, according to the …

FIFA charges Argentina for players’ conduct, Falklands banner

de la Fuente slams Argentina conduct after WC final

2 min readJul 24, 2026 06:35 PM IST Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said that the Argentina players’ conduct after the final whistle of the FIFA World Cup final was “intolerable and unacceptable.” Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes physically tangled with Spain players Eric Garcia and Gavi while Spain captain Rodri was hit in the stomach as he ran past Argentina defender Nahuel Molina to celebrate th 1-0 win. “It cannot be allowed. In any case, I find it intolerable and unacceptable from players of that caliber, whom I had been praising in the days before and who have a magnificent coach,” De la Fuente told Spanish public broadcaster TVE. “I want to highlight our behavior in the face of that kind of aggression and provocation,” the coach said. “Our players always kept their composure and behaved like true professionals,” he added. Argentina assistant coach Roberto Ayala apologized Wednesday for his confrontation with Dani Olmo, which he described as a shove and not a punch. On Monday, FIFA opened an investigation after Spain’s celebrations on …

How Rodri won the Golden Ball with no goal, no assist, no defining stat

How Rodri won the Golden Ball with no goal, no assist, no defining stat

Rodri and America. It was always meant to be; a unique relationship forged by chance and moulded by destiny. Sixteen years before he kissed the World Cup trophy, confetti showering on him and fireworks wiggling into East Rutherford skies, he was in Connecticut, almost 100 miles from the scene of his conquest, as part of an exchange programme. His father wanted him to pursue academics in the United States, but he was firm on his ultimate desire to be a footballer. But his father had other plans, and imagining that the American life would alter his son’s ambitions, he packed him off to a student programme in Connecticut. Rodri. Suddenly, the quiet teenager from the Madrid suburb of Villanueva de la Cañada found himself in the middle of a forest in Conn-et-ee-cut, as they call it. “It was like I was stepping into a Hollywood movie,” he wrote in Player’s Tribune. “You know the movies where the kids go to the camp on a big lake and there’s wooden canoes and you’re climbing trees and …

‘What Spain do off the ball impresses me’: Thierry Henry on La Roja | Football News

‘What Spain do off the ball impresses me’: Thierry Henry on La Roja | Football News

5 min readJul 20, 2026 04:00 PM IST With their 1-0 win over defending champions Argentina in the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday, Spain won their second World Cup to add another star to their jersey. With Ferran Torres scoring the solitary goal of the much- anticipated final in the 106th minute in extra time, Spain became the first nation to be the reigning World Cup champions in men’s and women’s football in the world.  The Luis de la Fuente-coached side had started its World Cup campaign with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde with Torres missing an easy chance in the match.  Former France striker and 1998 World Cup winner Thierry Henry has termed Spain’s belief in their playing style as the key for their World Cup triumph and shared how everyone had written Spain off after the draw against Cape Verde.  Henry was initially asked about what other countries need to do to win the World Cup before he spoke about how Spain were good on the ball and …

Spain didn’t just win the World Cup. They made an argument for greatness

Spain didn’t just win the World Cup. They made an argument for greatness

With his headmaster-like demeanour, Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente waited patiently to lay his hands on the most prized sporting trophy in the world. He was in no haste, perhaps because he knew the trophy would be his and the wondrous band he has assembled would remain in contention for the next four years; perhaps he is fascinated more by the journey than the destination, or maybe he knows his team is not yet finished piling trophies onto the federation’s mantlepiece. He, and the whole world, could see the tidings of a footballing dynasty that could rule the world for the next decade. The second Spanish dynasty of the century, and as artful and delightful as the previous iteration, the tiki-takians. ALSO READ | Ferran Torres extra-time strike dethrones Argentina; Spain crowned champions The route to the crown was flawless, steadily raising their tempo from a goalless draw against Cabo Verde to the remorseless annihilation of a magnificent France to gently dismembering the fight and bravado of Argentina, the defending champions, the men of …

No Real Madrid players in Spain squad for 2026 World Cup | Football News

No Real Madrid players in Spain squad for 2026 World Cup | Football News

As many as eight Barcelona players are in the Spanish squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but there will be no representation of 15-time European champions Real Madrid. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente named a 26-man squad for the tournament and for the first time, a Spanish squad devoid of Real Madrid players will turn up at the World Cup. De la Fuente himself played down the absence, stating that he doesn’t care which club players play for as long as they fit into his plans for the national squad. “I’m the manager and I don’t look at where the players come from. They’re national team players; I don’t look at one club or another. I don’t have the same local bias that a fan might have. All I want is for these players to feel proud to represent the national team,” De la Fuente told reporters. Defenders Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal were among the Real Madrid names to miss out, leaving Barcelona to provide the spine of a team chasing Spain’s …

Manchester City include injured midfielder Rodri in Champions League squad for knockout phase | Football News

Manchester City include injured midfielder Rodri in Champions League squad for knockout phase | Football News

Manchester City on Friday added midfielder Rodri in the Champions League squad for the knockout phase as the 2023 champions hope for the Spaniard international to potentially return to action this season. The Ballon d’Or winner had torn the ACL in his right knee against Arsenal on September 22 and had previously set a target of about April – “six to seven months” after the injury – to return to play. UEFA had set a midnight Thursday deadline to submit updated squad lists for European competitions. With a limit of three new signings in the midseason transfer window allowed, City left out teenage defender Vitor Reis who joined from Palmeiras last month. With the Champions League quarters set to take place on April 8, the English champions have a daunting task to stay in the competition until then without star midfielder Rodri, who scored the winning goal in the 2023 final against Inter Milan. Our squad for the @ChampionsLeague has been updated 📋 — Manchester City (@ManCity) February 7, 2025 Man City face Real Madrid …

‘It was unfair’: Cristiano Ronaldo on Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Jr | Football News

‘It was unfair’: Cristiano Ronaldo on Rodri winning the Ballon d’Or over Vinicius Jr | Football News

Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday weighed in on the decision to hand the men’s Ballon d’Or award to Manchester City’s Rodri, saying Brazil and Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. deserved to win instead. “In my opinion he (Vinicius) deserved to win the golden ball. It was unfair, I say it here in front of everybody,” said the Portuguese captain, who has won the award five times. Vinicius Jr., 24, scored 24 goals in 39 appearances across all club competitions last season to help Real clinch the LaLiga and Champions League double last season, and also scored in their Champions League final win over Borussia Dortmund. However, he was pipped to the award by Rodri in October, after the midfielder led City to a fourth straight Premier League title last season before inspiring Spain to Euro 2024 success. The awards ceremony was not attended by Vinicius’ club Real, who decided to boycott it in anticipation of him not winning the men’s award. “I really love the way they do their career, (Jude) Bellingham, Lamine (Yamal) now, this …

‘Why would it hurt me?’: Rodri on Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid skipping Ballon d’Or ceremony | Football News

‘Why would it hurt me?’: Rodri on Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid skipping Ballon d’Or ceremony | Football News

Ballon d’Or winner Rodri said that he does not have an issue with Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid skipping the ceremony last month after the Brazilian and his club reportedly did not wish to attend when they found out that he would finish second. “Why would it hurt me? It was my moment, to enjoy with my family. The last thing I’d be thinking about is people who weren’t there, and didn’t want to participate,” Rodri said in an interview with COPE radio. “I respect Vinicius hugely, and Real Madrid, and anyone who knows me knows it… I’d vote for [Dani] Carvajal, and Vinicius too. Maybe Carvajal second,” he added. The 28-year-old Rodri, who was a leading figure in Manchester City’s English Premier League title triumph also played a pivotal role in Spain’s European Championship victory. “An incredible night for me. It’s a special day for me, my family and my country,” Rodri had said upon receiving the award. “I always try to improve every day, the level of my game, [playing] the modern holding …

‘Rafa Nadal played his entire career with pain’: Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City players to play through the pain | Football News

‘Rafa Nadal played his entire career with pain’: Pep Guardiola urges Manchester City players to play through the pain | Football News

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has encouraged his players to draw inspiration from tennis legend Rafael Nadal, urging them to play through the pain. The injury-stricken defending champions will be missing nine of their first-team players in their upcoming Premier League match against Bournemouth. Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Oscar Bobb, and Kevin De Bruyne have long-term injuries, while Savinho, Manuel Akanji, and Josko Gvardiol picked up issues during the midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Tottenham. Guardiola had previously ruled Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker out until after the international break. “There are moments when injuries are serious and require caution, but sometimes, if you have minor problems, you have to play,” Guardiola told reporters. “Rafa Nadal played his entire career with pain. He played and won—I don’t know how many Grand Slams. “In modern football, you have to handle these situations, or it’s impossible to sustain playing every three days at a top club. We’ll adapt tomorrow and in the games ahead. “We have an incredible group of players with a strong mentality, …