MEXICO CITY (AP) — The best chapter of james rodriguez’s A career has always been written on a yellow jersey Columbia, Especially under the intense pressure of short format tournaments. of 2026 world cup It provides a stage for the veteran midfielder to summon his familiar magic.
Rodriguez and Colombia open the tournament against Uzbekistan at Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.
Rodriguez, 34, is ending his quiet days with Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United, but Colombia’s players and coaches still believe he is a difference-maker.
Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo said: “James is doing well, he is improving physically and of course his talent and attributes make him a player who sometimes doesn’t have to run as much as other players to define things and bring clarity to the game.”
This will be Rodríguez’s third World Cup, tying him with Carlos Valderrama and Freddy Rincon for the most by a Colombian player.
“He’s been in every World Cup, so it’s very important for us debutants. He’s a global icon,” said 23-year-old forward Carlos Gomez. “He has great quality and a lot of experience. In 2014 I watched him from home and celebrated his goals. It’s very exciting to be with him.”
Rodriguez, a role player for the club, remains a star for his country
Rodriguez enters the tournament with surprisingly little mileage on his legs, having played in just eight games and logged 284 minutes for Minnesota during the first half of the 2026 MLS season.
However, his lack of form in club play never hindered his international success. Rodriguez has become a talisman for the short summer tournaments. He helped Colombia reach the final of the 2024 Copa America and was named the tournament’s best player.
His breakthrough came 10 years ago at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he won the Golden Boot with six goals and helped Los Cafeteros reach the quarter-finals, their best result at the World Cup.
Striker Luis Suarez said: “Ever since James or I have been watching him play for his country since we were kids, it’s like he transforms when he puts on the jersey.” “He is a source of pride for me and many others as an athlete and as a teammate. It would be a dream to share a locker room with him.”
His performances in 2014 earned him a move to Real Madrid, where he won two La Liga titles in four seasons. This peak marked the beginning of a club career that would take him around the world, with stints at Bayern Munich, Everton, Al Rayyan in Qatar and Olympiakos in Greece, followed by spells at Sao Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, Liga MX’s Club Leon and Minnesota.
Colombia aims to recover from missing out on the 2022 World Cup
Colombia will return to football’s highest stage looking for redemption after missing out on the 2022 tournament in Qatar. In 2018, they reached the final tournament in Russia, but lost in a penalty shootout against England.
“The message is to enjoy, be grateful and give everything for the Colombian uniform,” Lorenzo said. “Thank God we are back in this tournament after eight years. We are excited and eager to do the right thing.”
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
