Midfielder · #23 · 18 yrs
Rodrigo is a midfielder. Rodrigo is a 18 years old, midfielder. Rodrigo wears shirt number 23. Rodrigo's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore Rodrigo season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
Midfielder · #23
Ismail Elfath has been appointed as the head referee for the 2026 World Cup semifinal between Argentina and England, a selection that bodes well for Lionel Messi, who holds a flawless career record under the American official. Lionel Messi finds himself staring down history once again, standing just one victory away from leading Argentina to yet another World Cup final, with a powerhouse England squad serving as the ultimate hurdle in this 2026 semifinal. While pre-match storylines dominate the airwaves, the official tournament assignment of American referee Ismail Elfath has generated significant buzz given Messi’s immaculate personal track record with the official. Born in Casablanca, Morocco, Elfath immigrated to the United States and broke into Major League Soccer in 2012, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s top referees before earning selection to his second consecutive World Cup. Wednesday’s highly anticipated showdown on July 15th will mark the first time Elfath has officiated a match featuring Messi on the international stage, though the two share plenty of history at the club level. Since Messi joined Inter Miami in July 2023, Elfath has drawn the whistle for four of the Herons’ fixtures. Remarkably, the Argentine superstar has walked away victorious in every single one of those matches, none more significant than the historic 2023 Leagues Cup final, where the Fort Lauderdale-based club outlasted Nashville SC in a marathon penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw (a match in which Messi scored during regulation and converted his opening spot-kick). The other three matchups occurred during MLS regular-season play: a 3-1 victory over Nashville in 2024 (where Messi logged a goal and an assist), a 4-1 thrashing of the New England Revolution (where he tallied three assists), and most recently, a thrilling 4-2 comeback victory over Orlando City in the Florida Derby in March 2026, featuring a vintage Messi brace that included a stunning free kick. Across those four matches, the legendary forward racked up a staggering four goals and four assists. Rodrigo de Paul #7 and Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami talk with referee Ismail Elfath. While Wednesday’s blockbuster matchup will mark Elfath’s first time refereeing England national team, he is already familiar with Argentina. The American official was the man in the middle for a scoreless friendly between the Albiceleste and Colombia back in September 2018 at MetLife Stadium, though Messi did not feature in that match as he was resting from international duty under a mutual agreement with newly appointed head coach Lionel Scaloni. A look at Elfath’s World Cup resume Elfath famously served as the fourth official during the legendary 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France, though he had already built an impressive tournament resume as the lead referee in Qatar. During that tournament, he took charge of high-profile group-stage matches involving Portugal vs. Ghana and Cameroon vs. Brazil, before officiating the tense Round of 16 encounter between Japan and Croatia. During the current 2026 campaign, he has already officiated three high-stakes matchups, including group-stage fixtures between the Netherlands and Japan, and Uruguay and Spain, alongside the dramatic Round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway. Tasked with managing what promises to be one of the most emotionally charged and historically fierce rivalries in world soccer, Elfath’s officiating performance will undoubtedly be placed under an intense microscope.
Footballers are known for their eclectic matchday rituals: Lionel Messi likes to drink maté with teammate Rodrigo De Paul at exactly 9.30am, while Harry Kane always dons the left side of his kit first. These candid photos show the 2026 World Cup’s elite players finalising their mental and physical preparations Continue reading...
Concern has rapidly spread through the national team camp after fresh developments surrounding the Santos forward’s physical condition created uncertainty just days before the tournament begins. Carlo Ancelotti and Neymar were expected to reunite at the perfect moment ahead of Brazil’s latest World Cup campaign. Instead, concern has rapidly spread through the national team camp after fresh developments surrounding the Santos forward’s physical condition created uncertainty just days before the tournament begins. Brazil entered preparations hoping Neymar could finally make his long-awaited return to international soccer after missing significant time through injury. However, new reports suggest there may now be deeper worries behind the scenes regarding the true state of the 34-year-old’s fitness. What’s more, the timing could hardly be worse for Brazil. With warm-up matches approaching and the World Cup opener against Morocco drawing closer, Ancelotti and his medical staff are now carefully monitoring one of the biggest names in world soccer. Brazil national team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed that Neymar has suffered a Grade 2 calf injury, following MRI examinations conducted after the player reported discomfort and swelling in his right calf. The injury occurred while Neymar was playing for Santos during a 3-0 defeat against Coritiba. Medical assessments later revealed a partial tear in the muscle fibers, an issue that typically requires several weeks of rehabilitation and controlled recovery. Atenção!⚠️Rodrigo Lasmar, médico da Seleção Brasileira, confirma lesão de grau 2 na panturrilha de Neymar. O jogador está fora dos amistosos antes da Copa do Mundo.📽️@geglobo pic.twitter.com/9iaVxLq9fV— LIBERTA DEPRE (@liberta___depre) May 28, 2026 According to the medical timeline, the 34-year-old forward is expected to need between two and three weeks before returning to full activity. That recovery period has already ruled him out of Brazil’s friendly matches against Panama and Egypt and placed his participation in the June 13 World Cup opener against Morocco in major doubt. What did Neymar previously say about the injury fears? Despite the growing concern, Neymar himself has attempted to calm the situation publicly. When reporters questioned him about the injury and whether it could become an issue during the World Cup, the forward brushed aside the speculation. “What problem?” Neymar replied when asked if the calf issue could affect his tournament. On another occasion, while discussing the condition of his leg, Neymar added: “It’s right here, in one piece.” The comments reflected confidence from the player, but internally, the situation appears far more delicate. Neymar Jr. of Brazil celebrates after scoring the fifth goal of his team during a FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier. Brazil’s medical department reportedly continues to take a cautious approach because of Neymar’s recent injury history. Since suffering a serious ACL tear in October 2023 while on international duty, the forward has struggled to maintain long-term fitness continuity. Ancelotti’s staff growing increasingly concerned The biggest twist in the story emerged through reports from Globo, which claimed there is significant concern inside the Brazil camp over whether the full seriousness of Neymar’s injury had been disclosed from the beginning. According to the report, Carlo Ancelotti’s staff suspect that Santos may have hidden the true severity of Neymar’s injury by initially describing the issue as only a “small fluid build-up” in his calf. Neymar of Santos reacts during a match. The situation reportedly became more alarming after Neymar underwent an MRI scan and allegedly left the clinic looking emotional and visibly concerned. Globo also stated that confidentiality agreements were put in place between the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the medical facility involved in the examinations. The report further claimed Brazil officials fear the injury could be
The excitement for tonight’s El Clasico has reached a fever pitch, and the atmosphere at the Spotify Camp Nou is set to be more electric than ever. As Barcelona prepares for a clash that could mathe...
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