Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez announced on Tuesday that he is stepping away from the national team, ending a 15-year international career that began in 2011. The 35-year-old, who recently signed with Atlético Nacional after a career spent mostly in Europe, shared the news in an emotional video posted to his social media accounts, just days before head coach Néstor Lorenzo is set to announce his first squad following the 2026 World Cup.
Rodríguez made his debut for Colombia on October 11, 2011, against Bolivia, and went on to play 131 matches, scoring 31 goals and providing 43 assists. His signature moment came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he won the tournament’s Golden Boot as top scorer and delivered a stunning volley against Uruguay widely regarded as the best goal of that edition.
He also featured in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, though injuries limited his impact, and endured turbulent stretches under coaches Carlos Queiroz and Reinaldo Rueda. Under Lorenzo, Rodríguez reemerged as Colombia’s talisman, captaining the side to the 2024 Copa América final, a loss to Argentina, before making one last World Cup appearance this year.
“Wearing this jersey was a dream, but also an enormous responsibility,” Rodríguez said in his farewell message, thanking fans for their support throughout his journey.
Read the original story at El Tiempo for more details.
Source: James Rodríguez anunció su retiro de la Selección Colombia: 'Gracias por acompañarme estos años' (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: s.yume, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).