James Rodríguez has announced the end of his international career with Colombia. The 35-year-old midfielder made the announcement on Tuesday after 15 years of representing his country. He recently signed with Atlético Nacional after a long stint playing abroad. Now he has decided to step away from the national team.
James Rodríguez shared the news in a video posted to his social media channels. He said that after many years, matches, moments of joy and tough times, he feels the moment has come to close a chapter of his life. He described wearing the Colombia jersey as a dream but also an enormous responsibility.
Rodríguez made his senior debut in October 2011. He scored the winning goal against Bolivia in La Paz. His biggest moment came three years later at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He scored six goals in five matches and won the Golden Boot. That performance earned him a move from Monaco to Real Madrid. He spent six seasons there and won two La Liga titles. He also played for Bayern Munich and Everton.
Since 2022, Rodríguez has played for several clubs around the world. These include Olympiacos in Greece, Sao Paulo in Brazil, Rayo Vallecano in Spain, León in Mexico, and Minnesota United in MLS, where he played just six matches.
Rodríguez said he was fortunate to experience moments he never imagined. These included World Cups, goals, unforgettable nights, victories that made people believe, and defeats that made the team stronger. He said that from the moment he joined the national team, he wanted to leave the jersey in a stronger position when he eventually moved on. Looking back, he feels he achieved that.
He also spoke about the honour of wearing the number 10 jersey and the captain’s armband. He said he tried to do so with respect, responsibility, and an awareness of what Colombia represents. He admitted there were good days and difficult ones, but he never stopped feeling proud of those colours.
Rodríguez played at the 2018 and 2026 World Cups as well. He surpassed Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón for the most World Cup games by a Colombian, with 13. He also captained the team to the 2024 Copa América final, Colombia’s first appearance in that match in 23 years. The Cucuta native shares the national record for caps with David Ospina at 131. He finishes his international career with 31 goals and 43 assists.
Rodríguez said he leaves with peace of mind because he knows he gave absolutely everything. He thanked everyone for every memory, every hug, and every moment.
James Rodríguez’s Colombia Career: 131 Caps, 31 Goals and Historic World Cup and Copa América Records
James Rodríguez played for Colombia’s national team for 15 years. He made his debut in October 2011 and retired in September 2026 after the World Cup. He earned 131 caps, which is Colombia’s all-time record shared with David Ospina. He scored 31 goals, the second-most in Colombia’s history behind Radamel Falcao’s 36. He also provided 43 assists, which is Colombia’s all-time record. He served as captain, including at the 2024 Copa América and the 2026 World Cup. He became Colombia’s youngest captain at 23 years and 4 months old.
Rodríguez won many individual awards. His biggest moment came at the 2014 World Cup. He won the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with 6 goals in 5 matches. He also won the FIFA Puskás Award for his famous volley against Uruguay. He was named in the World Cup All-Star Team. He was also named the Best Young Player of the tournament. He was included in the World Cup Dream Team. He won several Man of the Match awards, including against Côte d’Ivoire, Greece, and Uruguay.
At the 2024 Copa América, Rodríguez was named the Best Player of the Tournament. He led Colombia to the final. He provided 6 assists, which is a record for a single Copa América since stats began in 2011. He scored 1 goal in that tournament. He also won 24 tackles and had a pass accuracy of 84.1 per cent. He led the tournament with 20 decisive passes.
James Rodríguez holds several records with Colombia. He is the most capped player with 131 appearances, shared with Ospina. He has the most assists with 43. He is tied with Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincón for the most World Cup appearances by a Colombian, playing in 2014, 2018, and 2026. He is Colombia’s all-time leading scorer in World Cup qualifiers with 14 goals in 56 matches. He is also the only player to win the FIFA Puskás Award for a goal scored at a World Cup.
FAQs
Q. How many caps did James Rodríguez earn for Colombia?
A. Rodríguez earned 131 international caps.
Q. When did Rodríguez make his Colombia debut?
A. Rodríguez made his debut in October 2011.
Q. How many goals did Rodríguez score for Colombia?
A. Rodríguez scored 31 international goals.
Q. Which award did Rodríguez win at the 2014 World Cup?
A. Rodríguez won the Golden Boot with six goals.
Q. How many assists did Rodríguez provide for Colombia?
A. Rodríguez provided 43 assists.
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