New Delhi, May 21: On June 28, 2014, an exhilarating match took place in the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup. Colombia triumphed over Uruguay with a score of 2-0, thanks to a remarkable player: James Rodriguez. It was during this match that Rodriguez scored a stunning goal, catapulting him to international fame overnight.
Standing far from the goalpost, Rodriguez was in search of Colombia’s first goal. After receiving an exquisite pass, he controlled the ball with his chest and executed a magnificent volley that found the back of the net. The brilliance of this goal left the opposing team’s goalkeeper and coach in awe, unable to react. For this extraordinary strike, Rodriguez was awarded FIFA’s Puskás Award.
Throughout the tournament, Rodriguez netted six goals, earning him the coveted Golden Boot. This single magical goal and his performance in the World Cup established him as a global star. He became only the second player since Ronaldo in 2002 to score five or more goals in a World Cup. Rodriguez plays as an attacking midfielder, renowned for his exceptional passing, dribbling, and powerful left-footed shots.
Twelve years later, Rodriguez aims to replicate his stellar performance for Colombia in the FIFA World Cup 2026. Under his captaincy, Colombia reached the finals of the Copa America in 2024, a feat not achieved in 23 years. During this tournament, Rodriguez scored one goal and provided six assists, earning him the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Rodriguez began his professional football career with the Envigado club in Colombia before moving to Argentina’s Banfield team. He then joined Porto, followed by AS Monaco. However, his most significant success came after joining Real Madrid in 2014, where he was part of the UEFA Champions League team twice.
While at this Spanish club, he also won the FIFA Club World Cup title twice. Colombia failed to qualify for the last World Cup, but this time, the team is determined to make a strong impression on the grand stage, largely depending on the shoulders of captain James Rodriguez.
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