2025/26 was a tricky season for Rodri, but it looks like one Pep Guardiola prediction about the Spaniard has turned out spot on.
On Tuesday night, Spain will play against France in the first semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.
They got there by edging past Belgium, who are the only team to have scored a goal against La Roja since the tournament began.
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France are the slight favourites.
But Spain have a real chance if they can get their game plan right – and Rodri is set to be integral once more.
It has been highly encouraging to see him play so well so far, but that won’t come as a surprise to Pep Guardiola.
- READ MORE: Who is Rodri? Get to know Man City’s modest midfield maestro who won a Champions League final
Pep Guardiola predicted strong World Cup for Rodri
Back in October, Guardiola spoke about Rodri’s recovery from injury – and actually predicted he would show his best level at the World Cup.
He said (via ESPN): “Rodri has been and is an outstanding player,” Guardiola said. “Everybody knows it. But I said to Rodri, and maybe he struggled to understand: it’s not about six months or seven months [after the injury]. ‘Ah, [after] eight months I’ll play and be the Rodri of before’. No.
“Rodri will be good at the World Cup with Spain [next summer]. In the World Cup it will be the best Rodri and next season will be the best Rodri.”
FIFA have been collecting data during the tournament, and so far, Rodri is the number one player for the power rankings in terms of defending. He has a score of 7.91, putting him ahead of his teammate Pedro Porro in second (7.65).
Against Belgium, he ‘led the match for defensive impact through blocks, interceptions and defensive positioning’.
And he has been typically exemplary in possession, with WhoScored showing his pass accuracy to be 94% so far.
Rodri renaissance will excite Enzo Maresca
It looks like Guardiola’s prediction is ringing true, and the 30-year-old looks all set to be ‘the best Rodri’.
Fans were genuinely concerned last season watching him play, as he worked his way back from that ACL injury. He also dealt with hamstring and groin injuries.
But at the World Cup he has looked excellent, starting every game as captain and playing almost every minute.
New City head coach Enzo Maresca will be looking to build on what Guardiola did at the Etihad and there’s no doubt he will be trying to build around Rodri.
It will be a major relief to the Italian that he is looking somewhat back to his best, and the arrival of Elliot Anderson to provide legs in and around the Spaniard could be an absolutely tremendous pairing.
