James Rodríguez

Envigado

Born in Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Rodríguez spent his childhood in the city of Ibagué, Tolima. He was born to ex-footballer Wilson James Rodríguez Bedoya and Maria Del Pilar Rubio. Rodríguez started his professional career in 2006 with Colombian club Envigado. Although the club suffered relegation at the end of the year, he and Gio Moreno played key roles in helping the team secure promotion by winning the 2007 Primera B title on penalties. He became the second youngest Colombian player to start a professional match, playing his first match on 21 May 2006, at the age of 14.

Banfield

2008

In February 2008, Rodríguez was signed by Argentine team Banfield, and played a year with the club's youth teams. He made his first team debut on 7 February 2009 and became the youngest foreigner in Argentine football history in the process. He scored his first goal for the club on 27 February with a long range strike in a 3–1 victory over Rosario Central. He finished his first season with a goal in 11 appearances.

2009

In 2009, Rodríguez became a regular first-team player, featuring in every game of the Apertura 2009. At just 17, he became the youngest foreigner to score a goal in Argentina. His second goal for Banfield came on 26 September, when he scored with a strike into the top corner from outside of the area in an important 2–1 win against Newell's Old Boys, a victory that helped Banfield win the Argentine championship for the first…

Youth

Rodríguez was part of the Colombia U-17 team that finished runners-up in the 2007 South American Under-17 Championships, where he scored three goals. He also helped Colombia advance to the knockout stages during the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where they eventually lost to the winners of the tournament Nigeria. He was also part of the Colombia under-20 squad in three youth tournaments during 2011: the Toulon Tournament, the South American U-20 Championship and the U-20 World Cup that was held in his homeland Colombia. Rodríguez scored two goals and provided three assists during the 2011 Toulon Tournament. This show led him to being voted as the MVP of the tournament where Colombia won the final by defeating France in a penalty shootout. Rodríguez scored one of the penalties in the shootout. During the 2011 South American U-20 Championship, he provided three assists. During the 2011 U-20 World Cup, he was named captain of the U20 squad due to his impressive leadership and talent. By scoring three goals and providing three assists in the tournament, he gained international attention as a promising star, especially during his performance in the 4–1 victory against France where he scored a penalty and provided an assist.

Senior

2014 World Cup qualification and friendlies

On 29 September 2011, Rodríguez received his first call-up to the Colombia senior side for a match against Bolivia on 11 October 2011. He was selected as the man of match due…

Once considered to be among the best young players in the world, Rodríguez is a versatile footballer who can play in several positions across the midfield or front-line, having played as a playmaker, winger, and central midfielder for both club and country, although he has stated in interviews that his preferred role is as an attacking midfielder behind the strikers. Praised for his pace, technical skills, vision, and his ability to create chances for teammates as an advanced playmaker, Rodríguez' performances as a classic number 10 have led to comparisons with the famous Colombian footballer Carlos Valderrama; Valderrama himself declared Rodríguez as his "successor". Although naturally left-footed, Rodríguez has shown ambidexterity in his dribbling and style of play. His goal scoring abilities were a highlight of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he managed to claim the Golden Boot despite Colombia's elimination in the quarter finals following a 2–1 loss to Brazil. He is also an accurate free kick taker, and a goal threat from anywhere on the pitch. This has made Rodríguez recognized for his unpredictability, as noted by Marca writer Justin Sherman: "One of the differences that James has with other players is that, apart from being very good outside the area, he is also good inside. He has the qualities of a No. 9 and is capable of finishing with a shot from the head or with either foot with great effectiveness." Statistical data from 2015 to 2019 places Rodríguez as one of…

In 2015, Forbes estimated that Rodríguez' annual income was $29 million. Rodríguez married volleyball player Daniela Ospina, sister of Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina, in 2011. They met while Rodríguez was playing at Banfield. The two have a daughter, born in May 2013. On 27 July 2017, it was announced that the couple was in the process of divorcing. In October 2019, Rodríguez had a second child, a son, born to a surrogate in Medellín. Rodríguez is Catholic. He acquired Spanish citizenship in 2019.

Sponsorships

During his early days playing in South America, Rodríguez was approached by Adidas head scout Claus Peter Meyer. He featured occasionally in various adverts for Adidas as well as the Colombian beverage "Pony Malta", Nestlé drink "Milo", and the shampoo Clear. After the 2014 World Cup, where he won the Golden Boot as the tournament's top goal scorer with six goals, Adidas took advantage of Rodríguez' increased exposure and issued him his own custom gold boots to celebrate his achievement and increase the brand's on-pitch association with their new star asset.