Amid criticism of Spain captain Rodri following Spain's draw against Cabo Verde at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, head coach Luis de la Fuente backed his skipper, saying, "Rodri is...best player in...world." "Even at 50%, he's better than most other midfielders in...world," Fuente added. "It seems incredibly insulting to me that people would say that about...best player in...world," he stated.