Colombia football star James Rodriguez announced his retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary 15-year career with the national team to an end.
In an emotional video filmed earlier in the week, the 35-year-old midfielder confirmed he had made that decision in a video posted on social media yesterday, after Colombia’s 35-year-old midfielder confirmed it in an emotional video. Rodriguez said he felt the right time for him to close one of the most important chapters of his life after representing Colombia for more than a decade.
Rodriguez said in his farewell message: “Defending the colors of the Colombian national team was one of the greatest honours of my life.” He thanked supporters for the matches, victories, hard times and memories he shared during his international career.
Rodriguez’s decision comes just days after he returned to Colombian club football by signing for Atletico Nacional. He had previously played for Minnesota United in Major League Soccer before making his return home.
James Rodriguez's 15-year Colombia journey
Rodriguez made his senior international debut for Colombia in October 2011 against Bolivia. And so he developed himself into one of the country’s most important attacking players and later became the team’s captain and iconic No. 10.
Rodriguez made 131 international appearances and scored 31 goals and made 43 assists during his international career. He is Colombia’s joint record appearance holder alongside goalkeeper David Ospina and the team’s leading assist provider.
He represented Colombia at three FIFA World Cups: the 2014 tournament in Brazil, the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the 2026 World Cup.
His final game for Colombia was at the 2026 World Cup, where the team faced Switzerland in the Round of 16. Colombia were eliminated in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw.
Rodriguez leaves the national team just one appearance away from holding the record outright. His 131 caps put him level with Ospina at the top of Colombia's appearance list.
Brazil 2014 Made James Rodriguez A Global Star
Despite Rodriguez’s success with Colombia, his most important international tournament came at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Rodriguez scored six goals in five matches to win the Golden Boot and become the first Colombian player to finish as the tournament's top scorer. He scored in every match Colombia played during the competition.
His most famous goal came against Uruguay in the Round of 16. Rodriguez held the ball on his chest before hitting a beautiful volley from outside the box. The goal was later named as the tournament’s Goal of the Tournament, and he received the FIFA Puskas Award.
James Rodriguez officially announces his retirement from Colombia’s national team at age 35.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) September 15, 2026
The midfielder joins a long list of players to have confirmed their international retirement after the 2026 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/IbHyyed1g2
Colombia eventually reached the quarter-finals, their best-ever finish at a men's FIFA World Cup at the time, before losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil.
Rodriguez’s performances helped to cement his international reputation and brought him a move to the Spanish giants Real Madrid a couple of weeks after the tournament. He later played for Bayern Munich, Everton and several other clubs in Europe and the Americas.
His international achievements extended beyond the World Cup. Rodriguez led Colombia to the 2024 Copa America final and his six assists at the tournament were also a record for the most assists by a player in one edition. He was also the best player in the tournament.
A Legacy Built Around The No. 10 Shirt.
Rodriguez’s last years in Colombia came at a time when the team was transitioning from one generation to another. And even though he was injured at the club level, he was an important member on the national side.
His international career also had its share of bad times. Colombia didn’t qualify for the 2022 World Cup, so Rodriguez missed the tournament in Qatar. He returned for the 2026 edition, which was his last World Cup appearance.
As Rodriguez was announced, the Colombian Football Federation paid tribute to him after his announcement, describing him as a player who had left a mark on the history of the country's football. He played 131 games, 31 goals, 43 assists; he played in three World Cups, won the 2014 Golden Boot and the Puskas Award, and made four World Cups for his 131 appearances, the federation said in its statement.
Now Rodriguez is focusing on his club career with Atletico Nacional. He will return to Colombia after almost two decades abroad.
But his international career will be remembered mostly for the moments in Colombia’s yellow shirt. Rodriguez became one of the most recognizable figures in Colombian football in the modern period, from his 2014 World Cup capture to the captaincy at the 2024 Copa America.
And after 15 years, James Rodriguez has effectively closed his history with Colombia and has left behind 131 games, 31 goals and 43 assists, and a place in the history of Colombia’s No. 10 shirt.
