There was a time when James Rodríguez had the world at his feet. After a sublime 2014 World Cup, his name was everywhere. Then, Real Madrid decided to sign him, and his global recognition and fame levels went wild.
James was a hot item and had enough sauce to become a king.
But suddenly, he did not. Circa 2017, the Colombian entered into a weird downward spiral that currently has him looking for a new gig.
Former United States men’s national team manager Jürgen Klinsmann coached his first game for South Korea on Friday as the Taeguk Warriors drew Colombia 2-2.
Klinsmann was named the new manager of South Korea on Feb. 27. Friday, he faced his first test which was a friendly match against Colombia in front of the home crowd in Ulsan, South Korea.
The magical nights of Cody Gakpo just keep getting better and better. His consistency has evoked memories of another World Cup hero who has been the benchmark for World Cup performance since 2014. James Rodríguez’s magical tournament saw him score six goals in five games including one in each of his group stage matches.
Gakpo has followed suit for the Netherlands, scoring at the same rate in Qatar this year. Rodríguez’s month-long spell in Brazil changed his life ahead of his move to Real Madrid, could we see the same happen with Gakpo in 2022?
James Rodríguez is being praised as a hero in the Qatar Stars League after saving the life of a colleague on Jan. 8. The Colombian was playing for Al-Rayyan when Al-Wakrah defender Ousmane Coulibaly collapsed on the goal-line due to a cardiac arrest, just seconds after he sent the ball to a corner kick.
Reports say while everybody was panicking, Rodríguez ran to Coulibaly and performed a life-saving maneuver. The phrase is not an oversell — the doctors who took care of Coulibaly in the stadium applauded his intervention.
Más allá de su reciente regreso a la Selección de Colombia, hay poco fútbol en la vida de James Rodríguez por estos días. El mediocampista del Al-Rayyan, en Catar, está suspendido por insultar a un árbitro luego de una falta que le cometieron y en la sección de noticias de los portales noticiosos su nombre solo hace ruido en las columnas de chisme. Desde los rumores a que era el rey de la fiesta en el Bayern Munich a su nuevo look de pelo calipso, similar al de Karol G, la cantante con quien la prensa rosa lo vincula románticamente.
The first James Rodriguez Qatar goal was scored on Tuesday as the 30-year-old Colombian helped Al-Rayyan to a 4-2 victory in the Qatar Stars League. I still hear Peter Drury’s commentary of “my word this boy’s a star” from when James scored an absolute screamer against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup echoing in my ear.
In 2014 it felt like James could conquer the Earth. In 2021 he’s scoring his first goal for Al-Rayyan.
Everton midfielder James Rodriguez faces an uncertain future at the Premier League club, with manager Rafa Benitez saying on Friday that the Colombian international was part of his plans until Aug. 31 when the transer window closes.
Rodriguez missed Everton's opening 3-1 home win over Southampton last weekend as he was isolating due to COVID-19 regulations, with Benitez stating that he hoped to find the "best solution" for the team and the player.
British media have linked the 30-year-old with a switch to Italian side AC Milan.
América y Europa, dos continentes que viven el fútbol de manera distinta. Pasión de los hinchas o el fútbol de constelaciones y estrellas. La espontaneidad o la organización desmedida. La humildad o el lujo donde sobran los millones. Improvisación o coordinación. Pasantía o tesis de doctorado. Sueño o consagración.
El Océano Atlántico separa el nuevo del viejo continente. Unos 7.000 kilómetros de distancia corroboran las diferencias políticas, económicas, culturales y sociales que existen entre ambos. El fútbol no escapa a eso.
Colombia comenzó con un triunfo su andar por la Copa América 2021. La selección dirigida por Reinaldo Rueda venció a Ecuador por 1-0, gracias a una elaborada jugada de laboratorio que inició y terminó el volante de Boca Juniors, Edwin Cardona. Tan excepcional fue la combinación que ya se candidatea para ser considerada como el mejor gol de la competencia.
Después de un eterno "que sí, que no", la Copa América finalmente comienza este domingo 13 de junio.