James Rodríguez has been in exceptional form this summer, guiding his team to a semi-final clash with Uruguay.
There was a time when it seemed James Rodríguez’s international career might be over. Left out of Colombia’s squad for the 2021 Copa América due to fitness concerns, it appeared his peak years were behind him as he moved between clubs without making a significant impact.
Fast forward three years, and James is pivotal to a rejuvenated Colombian squad under head coach Nestor Lorenzo, now just one win away from the Copa América final. The 32-year-old has reclaimed his prominence and has been a standout performer in this summer’s tournament, reminiscent of his breakout at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
James contributed a goal and two assists in the quarter-final victory over Panama, tallying five assists in four games. This achievement equals Lionel Messi’s record from the 2021 competition. With one more assist, James would surpass Messi, a remarkable feat considering his journey back to international prominence.
Following Colombia’s 5-0 triumph over Panama, James acknowledged tougher challenges lie ahead, notably the semi-final against Uruguay, a formidable team under the renowned Marcelo Bielsa.
Speaking to reporters, James said, “The most important matches are still ahead. Our goal is to reach the final. I’m very pleased with our current form. Today, we played well and scored goals early.”
This resurgence in James’s career seemed improbable just a short while ago. He currently plays for São Paulo in Brazil, having joined last summer amid injury struggles that limited his playing time to just 10 minutes in the past two months. After leaving Real Madrid in 2020, where he featured in only 85 league matches over six years, James had brief stints with Everton, Al-Rayyan, and Olympiacos before moving to São Paulo.
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