James David Rodríguez Rubio has played his last match for Colombia. The 35-year-old left-footed midfielder announced his retirement from the national team this week in an emotional three-and-a-half-minute video, thanking the country for 15 years of support through triumphs, setbacks, and constant scrutiny.
Rodríguez made his senior debut on October 11, 2011, wearing jersey number 5 in a World Cup qualifying win over Bolivia in La Paz. He had already caught the eye of Colombian scouts during a standout run with the under-20 team, and his club form with FC Porto in Portugal only strengthened the case for his call-up.
His breakout moment came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he stepped into the spotlight after star striker Radamel Falcao was ruled out through injury. Rodríguez scored in all five of Colombia’s matches, finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals, and won FIFA’s Puskás Award for his stunning volley against Uruguay — a performance that later earned him a transfer to Real Madrid.
Injuries limited his impact at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the years that followed brought heavier criticism as Colombia’s fortunes fluctuated under different coaches. Still, Rodríguez remained a fixture of the squad until his final international appearance on July 7, 2026, at the World Cup held in North America.
Want the full story on his career highlights and the reaction back home? Check out the original report at eltiempo.com.
Source: James Rodríguez cierra una etapa en su vida: así fue su ciclo vistiendo la camiseta de la Selección Colombia desde su debut en 2011 (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Johnragai-Moment Catcher, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).