Spain captain Rodri warned Portugal on the eve of Monday’s World Cup last-16 clash that the European champion can still get a lot better.

Spain, one of the favourites in North America, was held to a shock 0-0 draw with debutant Cape Verde to open its title charge.

It then beat Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0 to top its group, before a statement 3-0 win over a dogged but limited Austria in the last 32.

That impressive performance served notice to its rivals, and midfield general Rodri said that was just the start.

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“Spain’s evolution (at the tournament) has been gradual,” the 30-year-old Manchester City player told reporters on Sunday ahead of the meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Texas.

“Obviously in a sense that is normal — in the first games you try to adapt to a different environment, different pitch, different type of teams you face, it is never easy.

“So I think in a gradual way, always growing and always knowing that the big things are coming now.”

Spain’s goalless stalemate with Cape Verde came as a huge surprise, but Rodri said: “We didn’t lose our heads, we stayed calm, and I think right now we still have a big gap of improvement.”

Published on Jul 05, 2026