DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

James Rodriguez never quite reached the dizzy heights of the hype he generated in 2014, yet the Colombian World Cup hero continues to inspire belief that he can lead from the front for dark horses Colombia in this year’s tournament.

James Rodriguez has often said that whenever he steps on the football pitch, he plays for “those who love beautiful football” – and during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, those admirers were completely captivated by him. The Colombian No.10, known for his charming looks and majestic left foot, not only won the Golden Boot but also the hearts of millions around the world through his dazzling performances.

Among the six goals he netted in Brazil, James has said his third remains his favourite. In that group-stage match against Japan, he mesmerised Maya Yoshida with a clever feint before delicately chipping the ball over Eiji Kawashima to complete a 4-1 victory.

However, it was his extraordinary goal against Uruguay in the following round that truly changed his life forever.

‘A mark of exceptional quality’

In the 28th minute of Colombia’s all-South American Round-of-16 clash at the Maracana, James produced a strike worthy of the iconic venue. Controlling the ball on his chest just outside the box, he unleashed a thunderous left-foot volley that crashed off the bar and into the net, sending shockwaves across the footballing world.

The goal didn’t just light up the stadium – it nearly broke the internet. Even NBA superstar LeBron James expressed his amazement, tweeting, “Man, watching this Colombian game, I think I’ve got my favourite player of the World Cup!” James later added a second goal in that 2-0 victory in Rio, sealing Colombia’s progress.

Then-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who had already been tracking James’ progress at Porto, said he was “absolutely amazed by the quality of James’ performances” in Brazil. The Frenchman told beIN Sport, “It was the intelligence of his passing, the smoothness of his movement, and the fluency in his play. His decision-making was incredibly quick, and his penetrative passes were magnificent.”

Wenger added, “You simply wanted him to have the ball. When you feel that way about a player, it’s always a sign of extraordinary quality – and he certainly had that.”

‘Why can’t he be the greatest?’

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was equally enchanted. Within just three weeks of Colombia’s quarter-final exit – a 2-1 loss to hosts Brazil – the then 23-year-old James was realising his “dream” move to the Bernabeu.

He was the new global superstar, the darling of world football. His childhood idol Carlos Valderrama declared, “He’s one of the best players in the world. Why can’t he become the greatest?”

James seemingly had everything required – sublime technique, superb vision, and a powerful shot. More crucially, he possessed a sharp footballing mind. Colombia’s 2014 coach Jose Pekerman remarked, “What’s most surprising about James is that despite his young age, he understands things that most footballers take years to learn.”

‘He’s not focused’

Yet, what James perhaps failed to grasp was the discipline needed to sustain a career at the highest level. This shortcoming eventually led to his decline at both Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Former Colombia team doctor Hector Fabio Cruz told Futbolred in 2019, “The boy isn’t focused. Instead of preparing for the new season, he was busy fixing his eyebrows and hair. Big clubs like Madrid expect players to be in top shape, but his attitude wasn’t right. He kept moving from club to club, but if he trained properly, he wouldn’t face these issues.”

Cruz compared James’ attitude with Cristiano Ronaldo’s professionalism: “After the 2018 World Cup, Ronaldo took a week off, then immediately had 15 people preparing him for the season. He’s the most professional athlete I know. James, on the other hand, left the same tournament injured, chartered a private jet, went to the beach and relaxed. That’s unacceptable. I predicted he’d struggle because he doesn’t put in the work.”

Ancelotti’s trusted player

Carlo Ancelotti, however, always had faith in James. The Italian manager valued creativity over work rate and sought to bring him along wherever he coached. “When I signed him for Everton, people worried about his fitness and whether he could handle the Premier League’s intensity,” Ancelotti told France Football in 2020. “In his first four matches, do you know how many sprints he made? Seven! But he had more goals and assists than sprints! So what are we really talking about here?”

He continued, “When I was at Milan, we signed Ronaldo. He arrived weighing 100 kilograms. I told him he couldn’t play until he lost weight. He said, ‘Do you want me to run or to score? If it’s to run, bench me; if it’s to score, play me.’ I played him, and he scored twice. James is the same type of player.”

Fully devoted

James himself has acknowledged that Ancelotti’s belief in him meant everything. He performs best when he knows his manager trusts him completely. Unfortunately, not every coach has shared that sentiment, and James has represented seven clubs in just five years.

As recently as January, he was without a club. Yet, his inclusion in Colombia’s 2026 World Cup squad was never in doubt. His commitment to his nation has never been questioned.

King James

For James Rodriguez, captaining Colombia remains his greatest pride. Even at 34, he still dreams of adding another chapter to his World Cup legacy. Another Golden Boot might be out of reach, but his recent accolade as Player of the Tournament at the 2024 Copa America shows his vision and creativity remain intact. Surrounded by energetic teammates, including Bayern Munich’s dynamic winger Luis Diaz, James continues to orchestrate Colombia’s play.

While Diaz may now be Colombia’s brightest star, even he admits that James remains “the idol of idols” due to his unforgettable heroics in Brazil over a decade ago.

Who can say what’s next for James in what could be his final World Cup appearance? What’s certain is that he’ll have the unwavering support of his teammates, his manager, and, of course, every fan who cherishes beautiful football.