James Rodríguez Retires From Colombia National Team

James Rodríguez has ended his international career with Colombia after 15 years, announcing the decision in a video posted to his Social media channels on Tuesday.

“I am closing one of the most important stages of my life.”

The 35-year-old made his senior debut for Colombia in October 2011, in a win over Bolivia in La Paz, and went on to become one of the side's most recognisable players. His finest spell came at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he scored six goals in five matches and took the Golden Boot, including a volleyed finish against Uruguay that won the FIFA Puskás Award. Reports of his caps and goal tally vary slightly between outlets — Record puts the total at 132 appearances and 32 goals, while others cite 131 games and 31 goals — but by all accounts he leaves as one of the most productive players in the side's history.

His career since has taken in Bayern Munich, Everton, Olympiakos, São Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, Club León and, most recently, Minnesota United, where he made just six appearances. He has now returned to Colombian football with Atlético Nacional, whose goalkeeper David Ospina has been at the club since March 2024.

Rodríguez also captained Colombia for much of the past decade and was named best player of the 2024 Copa América, where the side finished runners-up.

The international run is over. Rodríguez's attention now turns fully to club football at Atlético Nacional, where he arrives as the senior figure expected to lift a squad already carrying full internationals such as Ospina.