Manchester City's Rodri ruled out of Spain's 2026 World Cup qualifiers due to injury

Spain's midfielder Rodri has been ruled out of the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for Manchester City in their Premier League win over Brentford. The Spanish Football Federation confirmed the decision after receiving medical reports from Manchester City, highlighting the severity of the injury. This setback adds to Rodri's recent injury struggles, including a serious anterior cruciate ligament rupture last September that sidelined him for most of the previous season and subsequent knee issues this campaign. Despite his efforts to regain full fitness, including limited appearances this season, the injury against Brentford forced an early substitution and ruled him out of Spain's immediate international fixtures. The federation has not announced if a replacement will be called up for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, who remains a key player for both club and country. Rodri expressed optimism about recovery during the international break, hoping to return for future matches.