James Rodríguez, the former FC Porto midfielder, announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from the Colombia national football team, closing a 15-year international career in which he became one of the most celebrated players in the country's history.
The 35-year-old midfielder announced the decision on social media, saying he will not play for the national side, known as the 'tricolor', again.
In a video posted on X, Rodríguez said that after many years, many matches, many joys and also difficult moments, he felt it was time to close one of the most important chapters of his life, his journey with the Colombia national team.
He said wearing the Colombian jersey had been a dream but also an enormous responsibility, adding that he leaves at peace, having given absolutely everything.
Career record with Colombia
Rodríguez ends his spell with the national team having played 132 matches, scoring 32 goals and providing 37 assists. He was one of the leading figures in the recent history of the 'cafeteros', helping them finish runners-up at the 2024 Copa América, South America's national team championship, and captaining the side for much of the past decade.
2014 World Cup and the Puskás Award
One of the high points of Rodríguez's career came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals.
During that competition he scored one of the standout goals of the tournament, against Uruguay, a strike that earned him FIFA's Puskás Award, given annually for the best goal scored worldwide.
His performances at that World Cup opened the door to a move to Real Madrid, one of European football's most successful clubs, where he went on to win, among other honours, two Champions League titles, the continent's top club competition.
From Cúcuta to a career across three continents
Born in Cúcuta, Colombia, Rodríguez began his professional career at Envigado before moving to Argentina's Banfield, the club from which he transferred to FC Porto in 2010.
After leaving the Portuguese club in 2013, he went on to play for Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Everton, Al Rayyan, Olympiacos, São Paulo and León, among other sides.
Return to Colombian football
Rodríguez currently plays for Atlético Nacional, having returned to Colombia 20 years after leaving the country to pursue his career abroad.
