James Rodríguez, Colombia footballer: Profile, Career, News & Videos

James Rodríguez is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or right winger and captains the Colombia national team. Regarded as one of the best Colombian players of all time, he has been praised for his technique, vision, and playmaking skills. He is within the top 10 for players with the most international assists and is the second-highest assist provider in the history of CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Starting his career at Envigado, and then moving to Argentina side Banfield, Rodríguez established himself in Europe during his time at Porto, winning two league titles and the UEFA Europa League. In 2013, he signed for newly promoted Ligue 1 club Monaco, joining forces with fellow Colombian Radamel Falcao. In his debut season, he was the top assist provider in Ligue 1 and was included in the league's Team of the Year. In 2014, he joined Real Madrid for a transfer fee of €80 million, making him one of the most expensive players at the time.

In his debut season, Rodríguez was named in the La Liga Team of the Season and was awarded the La Liga Best Midfielder. He was later included in the 2015 UEFA Team of the Year. In 2017, he signed for German club Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal, winning the Bundesliga title in both of his seasons there. He was recognised as the best-performing player in the Bundesliga for 2017–18 according to statistical data. In the summer of 2020, he signed for Premier League club Everton on a free transfer, staying there for one season. He has since played for Qatar's Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, São Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, Mexican club León, and Minnesota United.

With 131 caps, Rodríguez is Colombia's record appearance holder. Rodríguez started his senior international career at the age of 20. He played in the 2014, 2018 and 2026 World Cups, winning the Golden Boot and being included in the All-Star Team in 2014. He also represented his nation at the Copa América in 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2024, winning a third-place medal in 2016 and reaching the final in 2024, the latter in which he received the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player and set the record for most assists in a single edition.