‘I made a mistake’: Rodri apologizes to Bernardo Silva after heated World Cup clash

Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 matchup at the 2026 World Cup, but the result was quickly overshadowed by an ugly late-game incident between two former Manchester City teammates. In the dying moments, Bernardo Silva attempted a header to keep Portugal alive but sent the ball harmlessly wide. Rodri, who spent years alongside Silva at Manchester City, sprinted toward the Portuguese midfielder and celebrated the miss. Silva took immediate offense, and a heated verbal exchange erupted that required intervention from teammates and opponents alike. Once the dust settled, Rodri didn’t shy away from accepting blame. “I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat it — I made a mistake by celebrating my good friend’s failure. I apologized to him right away. In the moment, emotions got the better of me. But because of the trust and respect we have for each other, this incident is over,” Rodri explained. Spain now face Belgium in the quarterfinals as they continue their quest for the title.