Rodri and Bernardo Silva had a disagreement as Spain beat Portugal and knocked Cristiano Ronaldo out of the World Cup.
Former Manchester City teammates Rodri and Bernardo Silva had a bit of a heated moment during the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Bernardo, the Portuguese midfielder, missed a big chance late in the game just before Portugal was knocked out, and that led to some tension between the two.
Rodri and Bernardo spent many years playing together at Manchester City, winning four Premier League titles and a Champions League. But now, they’re on opposite sides internationally, with Rodri playing for Spain and Bernardo for Portugal.
The match itself was pretty quiet until Arsenal’s Mikel Merino, playing a new role, scored a last-minute goal in the 91st minute to decide the game. Bernardo Silva tried to equalize by heading a ball over the crossbar, which was heartbreaking for Portugal fans.
After that miss, Rodri teased Bernardo, leading to a fiery argument right before the game ended. Rodri was seen celebrating over Bernardo, who was clearly upset on the ground. Bernardo confronted Rodri angrily, refusing to shake his hand and even pushing him. It took Aymeric Laporte, another former City player, along with Spain’s goalkeeper Unai Simón and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, to step in and calm things down.
Fans were surprised to see this clash. One said, “From teammates to rivals, what a scene between Rodri and Bernardo Silva.” Another added, “It’s sad seeing friends compete like this for such a big trophy.” And a third joked, “Rodri and Bernardo are probably two of the most annoying players because they even annoy each other!”
After the match, Rodri apologized to Bernardo for celebrating his miss. “I’m sorry, it was my fault,” he said.
This summer, Bernardo Silva left Manchester City after ten years, along with John Stones, while Rodri stayed to help bring in new talent like Elliot Anderson for £116 million. Rodri also earned Man of the Match for his strong performance in midfield, stopping Portugal’s top players like Fernandes, Joao Neves, and Vininha.
Rodri showed great form, coming back strong after an ACL injury and leading Spain to one of their biggest wins in the tournament. Spain will next face the winner between the USA and Belgium, while France or Morocco waits in the other half of the bracket.
As for Portugal, big changes are coming. Cristiano Ronaldo retired, and their coach Roberto Martinez is also stepping down, marking the start of a new era for the team.