By Marta Alizeh. Last updated: October 20, 2026.
The Rodri family has a phone call at its centre. At 17, alone at Villarreal’s academy, Rodri wanted to quit football. He rang his father. His father told him to keep going.
Rodri has called that conversation the most important moment of his career. Eleven years later he won the Ballon d’Or. Two years after that, he won the World Cup with Spain and the tournament’s Golden Ball.
This guide sticks to what credible outlets have reported about the family behind Manchester City’s midfielder.
Quick facts
| Full name | Rodrigo Hernández Cascante |
| Date of birth | June 22, 1996 (age 30) |
| Birthplace | Madrid, Spain |
| Raised | Villafranca del Castillo, Villanueva de la Cañada |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Position | Defensive midfielder |
| Club | Manchester City (No. 16) |
| Father | Antonio Hernández, engineer |
| Mother | Elena, marketing director (Cascante by Spanish naming custom) |
| Siblings | Brothers Gonzalo and Álvaro |
| Partner | Laura Iglesias, surgeon |
| Education | Business administration, Jaume I University |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
Who is Rodri?
Rodri is a Spanish footballer, born Rodrigo Hernández Cascante on June 22, 1996, in Madrid. He plays defensive midfield for Manchester City and Spain. He won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and was Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024. On July 19, 2026, Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, and Rodri took the Golden Ball, FourFourTwo reported.
Who are Rodri’s parents?
Rodri’s parents are Antonio Hernández, an engineer, and Elena, a marketing director. Spanish outlets including The Objective report that they raised their three sons to value money and stay grounded.
Antonio Hernández, the father
Antonio is the parent at the heart of Rodri’s best-known story. Rodri joined Villarreal’s academy at 17 after Atlético Madrid released him. He felt his dream slipping away and wanted to give up.
He called his dad. Antonio told him not to quit. Rodri said in 2024 that his mindset changed after that call, Gamereactor reported.
Antonio also has roots outside Madrid. Diario de León reports that he lived for a time in La Bañeza, in León province, before work took him to the capital.
Elena, the mother
Elena works as a marketing director and keeps out of interviews. The reports checked for this article give her first name but not her full name.
Spanish children usually take their mother’s first surname as their second. So Rodri’s full name, Hernández Cascante, points to Cascante as her surname. That’s an inference from naming custom, not a quoted fact.
Who was Rodri’s grandfather?
Rodri’s paternal grandfather was Noé Hernández, a doctor in La Bañeza in the 1960s and 1970s. Diario de León reports that he came from the nearby village of Valcabado del Páramo.
He died in March 2024. A few days later, Rodri scored twice for Spain against Brazil and dedicated a goal to him.
Does Rodri have siblings?
Rodri has two brothers, Gonzalo and Álvaro. Vozpópuli reports that Gonzalo studied in the United States on a sports scholarship and Álvaro is studying in Manchester.
Their exact ages and birth order haven’t been confirmed in the sources checked for this article.
Childhood and early life
Rodri grew up in Villafranca del Castillo, a residential area in Villanueva de la Cañada, west of Madrid. He started at CF Rayo Majadahonda and joined Atlético Madrid’s youth system at 11.
In 2013 Atlético let him go, citing a lack of physical strength. Villarreal signed him. That move led to the hardest stretch of his teens, and to the call home.
He kept studying throughout. He earned a business administration degree from Jaume I University in Castellón. The Objective reports that he finished it after moving to England, flying back to sit exams.
How did family shape Rodri’s career?
Rodri’s family shaped his career at the exact moment it nearly ended. Without his father’s advice at 17, there may not have been a Villarreal debut, an Atlético return or a move to City in 2019.
The values stuck too. Rodri famously avoids social media. He has said fame doesn’t fulfil him and that he prefers not to be extravagant, according to The Objective.
He has needed that steadiness. A torn ACL in September 2024 ruled him out for most of a season. He came back in May 2025 and, 14 months later, lifted the World Cup.
Fellow Spain and City stars have their own family stories. See Gavi’s family background, Phil Foden’s family and Erling Haaland’s family.
Who is Rodri’s girlfriend?
Rodri’s long-term partner is Laura Iglesias, a doctor who works as a surgeon in Castellón, Vozpópuli reports. The pair met in a university residence while he was at Villarreal and she was studying medicine.
She was at the 2023 Champions League final. After the match, Rodri gave her his winner’s medal, according to The Objective.
Interesting facts about Rodri’s family
- His grandfather was a town doctor in La Bañeza for years.
- His partner is a surgeon, and they met in a student residence.
- One brother studied in the US on a sports scholarship.
- He gave his Champions League medal to Laura on the night he won it.
- He dedicated a Spain goal to his grandfather days after his death.
Frequently asked questions
Who are Rodri’s parents?
His parents are Antonio Hernández, an engineer, and Elena, a marketing director.
Does Rodri have siblings?
Yes. He has two brothers, Gonzalo and Álvaro.
Who is Rodri’s girlfriend?
His partner is Laura Iglesias, a surgeon he met at university in Castellón.
Where is Rodri from?
He was born in Madrid and grew up in Villanueva de la Cañada, west of the city.
Did Rodri win the 2026 World Cup?
Yes. Spain beat Argentina 1-0 in the final on July 19, 2026, and Rodri won the Golden Ball.
Why is Rodri famous?
He won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, Euro 2024 and the 2026 World Cup, and is a key midfielder for Manchester City.
The takeaway
An engineer father who said keep going, a grounded family and a partner from his student days. Rodri’s calm on the pitch has a very ordinary, very solid source.
This article reflects information available on October 20, 2026. It will be revised when real new details emerge about the Rodri family.
