At 35 years old and approaching the twilight of his career, James Rodríguez is preparing for what will be his third and final World Cup. His unforgettable performance at the 2014 tournament — when he was still relatively unknown outside Europe while playing for AS Monaco — changed everything. The six goals he scored during that summer turned him into a global star and earned him a move to Real Madrid immediately after the competition.
When he steps onto the pitch this Wednesday against Uzbekistan at Estadio Ciudad de México, Rodríguez will make his third World Cup appearance, tying Colombian legends Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón for the most World Cup tournaments played by a Colombian footballer.
Unlike many players arriving at the tournament after grueling club seasons, Rodríguez enters the World Cup with remarkably little mileage in his legs. The Colombian captain made just eight appearances and played only 284 minutes for Minnesota United during the first half of the 2026 MLS season.
Yet if there is one thing football has learned over the last decade, it is that club form and James Rodríguez rarely seem connected when the Colombian national team is involved.
Colombia’s Centerpiece
A lack of rhythm at club level has never prevented him from becoming Colombia’s centerpiece in international tournaments. He reminded the world of that during the 2024 Copa América, where he orchestrated Colombia’s run to the final and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
That brilliance echoed the performance that first made him a household name 12 years earlier. At the 2014 World Cup, Rodríguez won the Golden Boot with six goals and guided Los Cafeteros to the quarterfinals, still the best World Cup finish in the country’s history.
Praise for Rodríguez
“We have watched him since we were kids and seen how he transforms this country. The way James transforms when he puts on this yellow shirt is something that makes us proud as athletes, and having him as a teammate is a dream for the entire team.”
Luis Suárez on the importance of having 35-year-old James Rodríguez in the Colombian squad.
“He is a player who has been through all the World Cups, he is recognized around the world, he has tremendous quality and experience, and he is a midfielder who provides me with passes. It is very important for me to be here with him. I watched him in 2014, celebrated the goals he scored, and now being here alongside him is very exciting.”
Carlos Gómez on the importance of James Rodríguez within the Colombian national team.
“We talk a lot about this subject: identity and essence. I believe Colombia is joy, and we have tried to respect that identity at all times.
After so many years in the country, I know very well what people like and the type of football Colombians enjoy. We will do everything possible to maintain that essence and reflect it on the pitch.”
Néstor Lorenzo, Colombia head coach, ahead of the match against Uzbekistan.
“James has continued to improve physically and, of course, his talent and qualities make him a different type of player. Without needing to cover as many kilometers as other footballers, he is capable of making the difference, bringing clarity to the game, and solving important situations within a match.”
Final Chapter of a Generational Story
For Colombia, Rodríguez is living the final chapters of a story that helped define an entire generation of football supporters. And on Wednesday at the Azteca, where nearly 28,000 Colombian fans are expected to be in attendance, many will hope to see their most iconic player deliver one more memorable World Cup performance.
Luis Díaz may now be the new standard-bearer of Colombian football, the face of its present and future. But what James Rodríguez accomplished for his country over the last decade transcends statistics and trophies. He gave Colombia its greatest World Cup moments, inspired a generation, and for one magical summer in 2014, made the entire football world stop and pay attention.
Now, with one final World Cup beginning, Colombia hopes there is still one last dance left in him.
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