James Rodriguez Retires From Colombian National Team

James Rodríguez has announced his retirement from the Colombian national team, ending a 15-year international career. The 35-year-old midfielder confirmed his decision in a video posted to his social media channels on September 15, 2026. Rodríguez finishes his international career with 131 appearances, tying goalkeeper David Ospina for the most in Colombian history. He scored 31 goals in those matches, placing him second on the national team's all-time scoring list behind Radamel Falcao. The announcement came shortly after Rodríguez completed a transfer to Colombian club Atlético Nacional, his 14th professional club. "After many years, matches, moments of joy, and tough times, I feel the moment has come to close a chapter of my life," Rodríguez said in his retirement video. Rodríguez's international career was highlighted by his performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he scored six goals in five matches to win the tournament's Golden Boot. That breakout performance included a memorable volley against Uruguay that won the FIFA Puskas Award. He represented Colombia at four World Cups, setting the national record for career World Cup matches played with 13.