James Rodriguez, now 34, is back on the World Cup stage. Colombia’s captain started the team’s Group K opener against Uzbekistan on June 18, 2026, at the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking his return to the tournament that made him a global star over a decade ago.
This is Rodriguez’s third World Cup. He missed the 2022 edition entirely.
The path back to the biggest stage
Rodriguez joined Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United on February 1, 2026, and left on May 31, 2026, just in time for head coach Nestor Lorenzo to name his 26-man squad on May 25. A season marred by illness made his inclusion far from guaranteed.
He arrived at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil as a talented but unproven 22-year-old. He left it with the Golden Boot, having scored 6 goals and earned a spot on the tournament’s All-Star team. The 2018 World Cup in Russia saw Colombia reach the round of 16 before falling to England on penalties, with Rodriguez’s tournament disrupted by a calf injury.
