Rodri and Bernardo Silva involved in a spat as Spain knock Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo out of the World Cup

Former Manchester City teammates Rodri and Bernardo Silva locked horns in a heated exchange as the Portuguese midfielder missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the dying stages of the game before facing elimination.

Having marshalled the Manchester City midfield for the best part of the Guardiola era, winning four Premier League titles and a Champions League together, Rodri and Bernardo Silva are rivals on the international stage.

Sporting the emblems of bordering nations, the Portugal and Spain rivalry came to blows in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, as the European champions looked to upset Ronaldo's last dance.

In a very uneventful match, it was Arsenal holding midfielder turned utility poacher Mikel Merino who popped up as an unlikely tie decider, popping up with a 91st-minute goal.

Silva had the chance to cancel that out with an equaliser, as he rose above Rodri in the box to head a cross goal-bound, but it was only the roof of the net that rippled as it dropped agonisingly over the bar.

But after spurning the chance to level the tie, Bernardo Silva was mocked by Rodri as the two entered a furious row just moments before the full-time whistle.

Bernardo Silva erupts as Rodri mocks former teammate

Rodri was spotted celebrating over the body of Silva, who lay in regret on the floor, berating his former midfield partner.

The Portuguese man didn't take it lightly and marched up to Rodri in a furious exchange, refusing to shake his hands and pushing the Spaniard.

It took another Manchester City alumnus in Aymeric Laporte to separate the two alongside Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes.

Bernardo vs Rodri 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/AO5xulCTie

— The Pep (@GuardiolaTweets) July 6, 2026

"Have we really just witnessed Rodri and Bernardo Silva going at each other? From teammates to rivals," one fan said.

Another fan said, "Sad to see both of them competing for this greatest trophy, knowing they had been friends back in City

A third added, "You just know Rodri and Bernardo are 2 of those most annoying players in football, because they even annoy each other."

Rodri took to the post-match interview to apologise to the Portuguese man.

"I apologize to Bernardo Silva for celebrating his miss in the last play. It was my fault,” he said.

The two midfielders went their separate ways this summer as Bernardo Silva announced his departure from Manchester City after a decade in sky blue, leaving with John Stones, while Rodri remains at the club to watch over the £116m Elliot Anderson.

The Spanish defensive midfielder was given the Man of the Match award in his display in the heart of the pitch, thwarting what was dubbed as the best trio in world football in Fernandes, Joao Neves, and Vininha.

Looking back to his best form, putting in his finest performance after he tore his ACL following the claiming of the Ballon D'Or trophy award, Rodri led his nation to one of the biggest results of the tournament so far.

Spain will now move on to play the winners of the USA versus Belgium, with France or Morocco awaiting on the other side of their bracket.

As for Portugal, the nation will undergo a huge revolution following the retirement of Cristiano Ronaldo, with head coach Roberto Martinez leaving the dugout too.